Peterborough Sports boss expects a hostile atmosphere in an FA Trophy derby, but he expects his players to thrive

Sports make the short trip to the Hayden Road Sports Ground for a first round tie confident they are as well prepared as they can be for their first competitive action in over a month.

Sports drew at Bedford Town and won at Yaxley in two friendlies arranged to get the players match fit for a ‘massive game.’

If Sports win they will face a second round tie next Tuesday (December 15) and that’s important for Dean as there’s a fear the Southern League won’t re-start until January.

Sports and Diamonds are locked together in mid-table in the Central Premier Division on nine points with the city side having played a game fewer.

“It’s a massive match for us,” Dean stated. “We want to play competitive fixtures so we want another one after this one.

“It’s a derby game against a team who are a big rival even though we didn’t play them at all last season. The atmosphere will be hostile, but my players won’t be bothered by that.

“We are as well prepared as we can be. We played four lots of 60 minutes over those two friendlies and it looked like my players had worked hard on their fitness during lockdown. For three of those four periods we looked very good.”

Sports will be at full strength. Fans are able to watch this game, but it is an all-ticket game. Sports had an initial allocation of 75.

Stamford AFC travel to fellow Kidsgrove for their first round Trophy tie tonight. Both teams play in the South East Division of the Northern Premier League.

No fans can attend this game as Kidsgrove is in a tier three area.