Peterborough Sports held at home, but keep clear of the National League North relegation zone
A third goal in four games for livewire striker Max Booth wasn’t enough to deliver victory for Peterborough Sports against Curzon Ashton at PIMS Park on Saturday.
The National League North match finished 1-1 after the visitors found an equaliser midway through the second-half. The draw was enough to keep Sports four points and two places above the relegation zone ahead of a Tuesday night trip to mid-table Buxton (February 10).
There was a lively start to the game as Joel Amado headed a corner straight at Sports’ keeper Peter Crook inside the opening minute before ‘The Turbines’ threatened from a corner of their own with Maliq Cadogan forcing Curzon Ashton number one Callum Hawkins into a save.
The hosts continued to create chances and broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when Aaron Powell cut inside before finding Booth unmarked inside the box. His initial effort was blocked, but he reacted well to stab the rebound home.
Just after the half hour, Powell’s deep cross outwitted Hawkins, but skimmed the crossbar, before Crook’s punch fell to Jack Stobbs at the other end, but his lobbed effort fell wide of the post.
Sports’ Marcel Oakley advanced forward on the right flank late in the first half, but he could only fire his effort straight at Hawkins.
The visitors struck the post on 53 minutes as a cross from Stobbs defeated Crook before they levelled on 66 minutes after a Crook punch fell to Tony Weston who shot home through a crowded penalty area.
It became a tame affair until added time when Sports substitute Shaun Jeffers shot straight at Hawkins from close range and the visiting ‘keeper then made another fine stop to thwart Booth after he met a cross from another replacement, Sam Straughan-Brown.
Sports: Crook, Oakley, Hickingbottom (sub 69 mins, Joshua), Willis, Powell, Hickingbottom, Cadogan (sub 82 mins, Straughan-Brown), McLintock (sub 69 mins, Carayol), Miller, Coulthirst (sub 75 mins, Jeffers), Booth.
Unused subs: Edwards, Felix, Davies.
Curzon Ashton: Hawkins, Sobowale, Amado, Stobbs, Curran, T.Weston, C.Weston, Holmes (sub 86 mins, Olufowobi), Darby (sub 90 + 4 mins, Stokes), Richards, Ezennolim.
Unused subs: Ollerenshaw, Flannery, Welsh.
Attendance: 239.