MATCH REPORT: City of Peterborough win a Christmas cracker to go second

Goals were promised when Bedford arrived at Bretton Gate for a battle between two of the top four and seven of them duly arrived, Four of them for City, but that only told half the story.

City led 2-0 at the break through two Joe Finding goals and it was 4-0 10 minutes into the second half after Adam Wilson struck twice.

But Bedford rallied brilliantly, scored two superbly worked goals from open play and another from a short corner to make it 4-3 with fully 10 minutes still to go.

Thankfully, for home supporters at least, City hung on to make it eight wins from 10 unbeaten games and move to within four points of leaders St Albans who have played a game more.

City of Peterborough captain Ross Booth said: “We played better and with more confidence when we were 1-0 up than we did when we were 4-0 up.

“But we’d have taken a 4-3 win before the start. It was a very important game and a good win considering we hadn’t played for so long.”

All fears of rustiness after a three-week lay-off were dispelled by a quick City start. They were unfortunate not to score from a couple of goalmouth scrambles before Joe Finding’s 20th-minute goal direct from a short corner was followed by another Finding goal from another set play two minutes before the break. Finding diverted Alex Armstrong’s pass skilfully past the impressive Bedford goalkeeper.

In between the goals Manish Patel and Danny Sissons had both been denied by terrific defensive blocks, although Bedford also threatened on the breakaway.

Wilson slapped home another short corner soon after the re-start and it looked all over when a swift break led to Wilson slamming home goal number four from close range. Bedford, who felt aggrieved with the decision that led to City’s second goal, were angered by a blatant offence in the build-up to the fourth goal. but they commendably channelled that fury into launching a brilliant counter attack.

A swift, accurate passing move gave Bedford some hope and then a stunning goal featuring a superb pass from former City star David Appleton and a lunging finish made it 4-2. Bedford then netted from a short corner, but City regrouped and saw the rest of the match out quite comfortably.

City are next in action on January 6 and it’s another tough one at fourth-placed Wapping.

Spalding remain bottom after their scheduled fixture at home to Chelmsford was postponed.