City of Peterborough give themselves hope after giving National League title challengers a real fright

Adam Wilson takes a shot at goal for City of Peterborough in their 5-4 defeat against Bowdon. Photo: David Lowndes.

City went down 5-4 to title challengers Bowdon at Bretton Gate after twice battling back from two goals down to draw level, only to concede the winning goal five minutes from time.

It was a ninth defeat in 12 outings for City, but this one was a deep injustice.

One point would have lifted them out of the bottom two, but three points wouldn’t have flattered them against a niggly outfit who spent as much time trying to manipulate weak, hesitant umpires as they did battling a vibrant home side who were as usual backed by a lively crowd.

Action from City of Peterborough (red) v Bowdon. Photo: David Lowndes.

Bowdon struck twice from short corners in the opening quarter, but Sam Blunt also scored from a set-piece to reduce the arrears before Ben Read equalised with a speculative shot from the edge of the ‘D’.

Two more set-pieces - one which led to a penalty stroke - put Bowdon back in the driving seat, but City were creating far more clearcut opportunities in open play and Alex Armstrong pulled a goal back before Adam Wilson’s ferocious set-piece finish made it 4-4.

Bowdon upped their game to edge back in front with a fine team goal before Wilson and skipper Ross Booth missed late opportunities to grab a point.

City have two winnable away games this weekend, at Olton & West Warwicks on Saturday (February 22) and the University of Nottingham on Sunday.

Action from City of Peterborough v Bowdon at Bretton Gate. Photo: David Lowndes.

City of Peterborough Over 50s battled their way to the quarter final of a National Vets competition with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Barford Tigers at Bretton Gate yesterday.

Paul Tancred equalised for City before Jon Short saved two penalties in the shootout. Tancred, Richard Herbage, Jon Shippey and Shayne Andrew converted the City penalties.

City of Peterborough’s mixed team were beaten 1-0 in their National competition, losing to a last-gasp short corner at Loughborough.

City of Peterborough mens sixths and sevenths sit proudly on top of their respective East Leagues.

The sixths beat Ely 8-0 in Division Five with Phil Martin (3), Wayne Humphries (2), Neil Webb, Archie Senior and Jonathan Bigham scoring. Teenager Senior has now scored in five consecutive matches, while Bigham was scoring for the first time this season.

The sevenths also beat an Ely team 8-0 in Division Six with 13 year-old Luke Broadway and Conrad Lippold bagging hat-tricks.

Third-placed City of Peterborough Ladies scheduled fixture at leaders East London was postponed on Saturday. They host fourth-placed Harleston seconds this Saturday.