Peterborough Sports can’t feel sorry for themselves after agonising FA Cup defeat, FA Trophy action for Stamford and Wisbech, all Saturday’s non-league games

The city side went out at the third qualifying round stage 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with fellow Southern League Premier Division side Banbury United in front of a club record crowd of 478 at the Bee Arena.

It was an agonising exit just two wins from the first round proper for Dean and his players, especially former Posh man Jordan Nicholson who clipped the top of the crossbar with the decisive spot-kick just 20 minutes after he’d forced the shootout with an 80th-minute equaliser.

Sports are now determined to bounce back in a Premier Division Central fixture at Leiston on Saturday (October 17).

“I can’t put a positive spin on the night, apart from the size of the crowd and the atmosphere,” Dean said.

“We are all gutted. This was a great chance to get to the first round proper for the first time as there are so many beatable sides still in the competition.

“I feel for Jordan who played with a knock.

“He was a substitute because we thought we’d only get 25-30 minutes out of him, but he played for 70 minutes and got us back into the game. He’s only been with us a few weeks, but he was devastated afterwards. That’s how quickly people get committed to our club.

“But we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves and we won’t.

Banbury did what a lot of teams are now doing against us by sitting deep and stopping us playing. It’s something we will have to get used to. It’s a compliment I guess.

“We’ve now played eight games and lost just one of them, but we’ve drawn five.

“We need to turn those draws into wins. Those fine margins will be crucial in a tight league.

“We only have five points and yet we are only six points off the top.

“We beat Leiston 8-1 last season and they only have a couple of points this season, but they knocked Telford out of the FA Cup on Tuesday so they’ll be on a high.”

Nicholson and key midfielder Lewis Hilliard are both doubts for Saturday’s game.

Stamford AFC and Wisbech Town in FA Trophy action at home on Saturday, but Yaxley’s scheduled Trophy fixure against Chasetown at In2itive Park has been postponed because of a positive Covid test in the Chasetown camp.

Fixtures

Saturday, October 17

FA Trophy

Second qualifying round: Stamford AFC v Lincoln Utd, Wisbech v Coleshill, Yaxley v Chasetown.

Southern League

Premier Division Central: Leiston v Peterborough Sports.

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Holbeach v Loughborough Uni, Lutterworth Town v Deeping, ON Chenecks v Pinchbeck, Peterborough Northern Star v Oadby.

Division One: Bourne v Bugbrooke SM, Long Buckby v Blackstones, Whittlesey v Lutterworth Ath.

Eastern Counties LEAGUE

Division One North: March v Debenham LC.