Strikers shoot Peterborough Sports to first win as Nomads were put in their place at PIMS Park

Few would have predicted it would take Sports five matches to register their first win following relegation from National League North, but then it’s a new team under a new manager, Graham Drury the mascot-sized man with the big heart and the loud voice.

Drury said three points was essential tonight and his players delivered, seeing off early season high fliers Anstey Nomads 2-1 with a goal apiece from their forwards. The visitors arrived in the city with an unbeaten record and a reputation for slick passing football. They left with only the latter intact.

Anstey saw a lot of the ball, especially in the second-half, but created very little once Luis Rose had missed a virtual open goal in the eighth minute and Sports’ keeper Tom Jackson had pulled off an outstanding save early in the second-half to thwart a fierce strike from the edge of the penalty area.

By then Beresford had reacted well to bury a rebound after his own header from a corner had struck the crossbar on 12 minutes and Lobjoit ultimately won the game with a superb low drive from 20 yards after his strike partner had chested a long clearance from Jackson into his path seven minutes before the break.

In between Anstey, who were playing two divisions below Sports last season, had levelled through Rose who struck a shot from just outside area into the bottom corner of Jackson’s net.

The first-half was an end-to-end encounter, but the second period was a defensive grind for Sports for whom skipper Carl Mensah grew in stature as the game wore on, no mean feat as he must have been 6ft 6ins to start with.

But for all their possession Anstey failed to test Jackson again and Sports came closest to snatching a second-half goal late on with substitute Finn O’Boyle shooting just wide after a speedy run into the penalty area before Michael Richens struck the top of the crossbar from 20 yards just as five minutes of added time started.

That added time was extended by the dismissal of a visiting member of staff, something impressive referee Jonathan Lam took a while to sort out.

The post-match celebrations were worth the wait though.

Sports will hope to claim a second win of the Bank Holiday weekend at Needham Market on Monday

Sports: Tom Jackson, Ben Hart (sub Joe Burgess, 55 mins), Connor Wood, Carl Mensah, Jordan Cooke, Lewis White (sub George Hobbins, 79 mins), Michael Richens, Harry Vince, Luca Miller (sub Finn O’Boyle, 74 mins), Ben Beresford (sub Harvey Williams, 69 mins), Leon Lobjoit (sub Jevani Brown, 76 mns).

Goals: Sports – Beresford (12 mins), Lobjoit (38 mins).

Anstey – Rose (20 mins).

Sports cautions: Richens. Lobjoit, Beresford.

Attendance: 278.