Peterborough League Rep XI manager hits out at a lack of support from member clubs after National Cup knockout

The PDFL side went down narrowly 1-0 against the Dorset County League in a quarter-final tie at Sherborne FC. It was a record run in the competition for the PDFL, but Fogg was frustrated at not travelling even further.

Fogg said: “Whilst I am really proud of the players, and I cannot speak highly enough of all the players who travelled along with the committee members & officials at the PDFL, these feelings are tinged with immense frustration and disappointment with the lack of support from top clubs and players, some of whom refused to travel and represent the PDFL, while other players pulled out of the team at a very late stage due to a variety of reasons.

“This is a prestigious FA competition and the other leagues involved take it very seriously, but for some reason that I cannot figure out the clubs and players in the PDFL do not!

“Things need to change and I hope and trust that the PDFL will make the necessary changes to ensure that when the competition comes back around, everyone and every club supports the rep team manager and the League in the competition.

“The game itself went well. We started on top and were much the better team only to concede a sloppy goal against the run of play on 35 minutes.

“However, the young team responded to our half-time team talk in the second-half, led superbly by skipper Johnny Clay who was the best player on the pitch, and we were very unlucky not to get something from the game.

“We really felt that with a bit of luck and a little more quality in the final third we could have progressed, Dorset only had one shot on goal and scored while we had three good chances and the Dorset keeper pulled off a tremendous save in the dying minutes from a Tom Leader header when everyone in the ground thought he has scored!

“What is more frustrating is that we had been drawn at home in the semi-final and that would have been unbelievable, but we will now always be wondering ‘what if!’”

The PDFL side were not helped by Ben Moore pulling up injured in the warm-up and Kevin Holt and Ethan Atkins suffering first-half injuries.