Peterborough Sports and Stamford AFC power on in the FA Trophy, Whittlesey Athletic’s chances in the FA Vase scuppered by Covid, good result for Gaby Zakuani’s all-star Spalding United side

Peterborough Sports and Stamford AFC powered into the first round proper of the FA Trophy with impressive wins yesterday (October 31), but it’s anyone’s guess when those ties will be played.
Josh Moreman opens the scoring for Peterborough Sports against Gainsborough Trinity. Photo: James Richardson.Josh Moreman opens the scoring for Peterborough Sports against Gainsborough Trinity. Photo: James Richardson.
Josh Moreman opens the scoring for Peterborough Sports against Gainsborough Trinity. Photo: James Richardson.

The draw for the first round is scheduled for Monday, but football at step three level and below is likely to halt for a four-week lockdown period which starts on November 5. Step three Sports are the highest ranked local non-league team.

An enforced absence would be a severe frustration for Sports who delivered their best performance of the season to see off Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity 4-2 at the Bee Arena.

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Josh Moreman opened the scoring for Sports after just three minutes, turning home a Dion Sembie-Ferris cross. Paul Malone doubled the Sports lead soon after as the home side dominated the play throughout the first half.

Tendai Chitiza scores for Stamford AFC at Stourbridge. Photo: Dan Allen.Tendai Chitiza scores for Stamford AFC at Stourbridge. Photo: Dan Allen.
Tendai Chitiza scores for Stamford AFC at Stourbridge. Photo: Dan Allen.

But the visitors, who are managed by former Posh midfielder Curtis Woodhouse, dragged themselves level by the 55th minute before goals from Maniche Sani and Jonny Herd in the next 10 minutes secured victory in front of a crowd of 213.

Stamford beat higher level Stourbridge 3-0 away from home thanks to a cracking all-round performance. Tom Siddons scored early for the Daniels with Tendai Chitiza making it 2-0 before the break. Rob Morgan added gloss to the final scoreline with a late penalty.

Happy Stamford boss Graham Drury said: “Clean sheet, defended well, pressed well and finished well. Job done superbly despite missing five players.”

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Yaxley couldn’t make it a hat-trick of local Trophy successes as they went down 2-0 at home to Grantham Town in a match that drew a crowd of 119.

Action from the FA Vase tie between Whittlesey Athletic and Mildenhall. Photo: David Lowndes.Action from the FA Vase tie between Whittlesey Athletic and Mildenhall. Photo: David Lowndes.
Action from the FA Vase tie between Whittlesey Athletic and Mildenhall. Photo: David Lowndes.

Whittlesey’s chances in their big FA Vase tie at home to Mildenhall Town were scuppered by a Covid case in the camp which forced the entire first-team squad and manager Ricky Hailstone to self-isolate. The club’s reserves stepped up to fulfil the fixture and played with plenty of spirit despite a 6-0 reverse.

Spalding United’s first game in the South East Division of the Northern Premier League under the management of former Posh star Gaby Zakuani proved to be an eventful one as the Tulips snapped a five-game losing streak by holding sixth-placed Belper Town to a 3-3 draw away from home.

Spalding were behind three times, but goals from Lewis Brownhill, Spencer Weir-Daley and debutant Nile Ranger - one of several signings already made by Zakuani - secured a point for the team in 17th place.

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There were defeat at United Counties Premier Division level for Holbeach United, Peterborough Northern Star and Pinchbeck United. Former Spalding boss Lewis Thorogood has taken over as manager of Pinchbeck.

RESULTS

Saturday, October 31

FA Trophy

Third qualifying round: Peterborough Sports 4 (Moreman, Malone, Sani, Herd), Gainsborough Trinity 2; Stourbridge 0, Stamford AFC 3 (Siddons, Chitiza, Morgan); Yaxley 0, Grantham Town 2.

FA VASE

First round: Hanley v Deeping Rangers (OFF Covid), Whittlesey Ath 0, Mildenhall 6.

Northern Premier League

South East Division: Belper 3, Spalding United 3 (Brownhill, Wier-Daley, Ranger).

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Holbeach Utd 0, Harborough 1; Peterborough Northern Star 1, ON Chenecks 6; Pinchbeck Utd 0, Lutterworth Town 5.