Peterborough Sports handed home draw in the FA Cup as they seek to step up ona decent start to their Southern League campaign, tough draw for Stamford AFC against former Peterborough United skipper’s team

Peterborough Sports players celebrate their FA Cup penalty shootout win over Enfield. Photo: James Richardson.

The city side will host FC Stansted of the Essex Senior League in a second qualifying round tie on Saturday, October 3. Stansted play two levels below Sports.

Stamford AFC have a much tougher tie at Royston Town one of the title fancies in the Premier Division Central of the Southern League - the same level as Sports.

Royston are managed by former Posh skipper Steve Castle.

Royston Town manager Steve Castle in his Posh playing days.

Manager Jimmy Dean is in no doubt that his Peterborough Sports team have more gears to move through after they made a solid start to the new season.

Sports opened their Southern League Premier Central campaign with a 1-1 draw against highly-fancied Tamworth at the weekend and then made progress in the FA Cup on Tuesday night (September 22) at the expense of a strong Enfield Town team.

Sports trailed against Enfield, but hit back to lead thanks to goals from Brad McGowan and Mark Jones, only to be pegged back to 2-2.

The game went straight to penalties and Dean’s team emerged 5-4 winners in the shoot-out.

“I am fairly happy, on the whole we are at about a seven out of 10,” Dean said.

“It was a decent and fair point on Saturday. It was an intense and nervy game, but a draw was fair.

“And then, on Tuesday, I am delighted we got through, but again we drew the game. I just think we have got to step up a bit.

“I understand why we are not in full swing because we are only two games in and it’s not something I am losing sleep over.

“We have just got to keep taking steps forward to get to the point where we’re winning games. I am happy but I still think we have got gears we can move through.”

Sports must now hit the road with tomorrow’s (September 26) trip to Rushall Olympic being followed by a long midweek trek to Lowestoft Town next Tuesday (September 30).

Dean added: “It’s a desperately tough start.

“Tamworth have got to be the title favourites and then we had another Step 3 team to play in the FA Cup. And now we have two of our furthest and toughest away games coming up.

“Rushall will be a big and physical team and then we have a trip to Lowestoft on a Tuesday night. I’m not complaining though, I am glad we are doing it.

“It’s tough. The league looks like it has got a bit more depth to it this season.

“We won two or three games by five or six goals last season and I can’t see that happening this year. We just have to take it one game at a time, we can’t look past the next one.”

NON-LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday, September 26

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Premier Central Division: Rushall Olympic v Peterborough Sports.

Division One Central: Yaxley v St Neots Town.

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

South East Division: Spalding Utd v Carlton.

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Holbeach United v GNG Oadby Town, Lutterworth Town v Pinchbeck Utd, Peterborough Northern Star v Rothwell Corinthians, Rugby Town v Deeping Rangers.

Division One: Blackstones v Sileby Rangers, Irchester Utd v Bourne Town, Whittlesey Athletic v Melton Town.