City of Peterborough men gear up for a return to National League action, while the ladies continue to dominate in the East

It’s been two months since City last played a Midlands Conference League match. They started the mid-winter break in fourth place and return with a trip to fifth-placed St Albans on Saturday. The teams drew 2-2 at Bretton Gate earlier in the campaign.

Standings (all played 10): 1 Leek 26pts, 2 Oxford Hawks 20pts, 3 Norwich City 16pts, 4 City of Peterborough 16pts, 5 St Albans 15pts, 6 University of Nottingham II 14pts, 7 Banbury 13pts, 8 Stourport 7pts, 9 Barford Tigers 5pts, 10 University of Birmingham II 5pts.

City warmed up with a 3-2 friendly defeat at Olton & West Warwicks last weekend. Alex Bickerstaffe scored both goals.

City of Peterborough Ladies continued on their merry way at the top of East Division One with a 4-0 win at University of East Anglia. The team coached by Paul Hillsdon are now four points clear of the rest.

Rachel Fletcher opened the scoring for City from an 11th minute short corner with Hope Elkins adding another set piece goal five minutes. Hannah Grimshaw made it 3-0 before the break with Bella Wienand completing the scoring in the second-half.

City host Wisbech Town this Saturday (1pm). Wisbech are currently third from bottom after claiming an equaliser through Alice Salmon two minutes from the end of a 1-1 draw with St Neots.

Standings: 1 City of Peterborough P14 37pts, 2 Norwich Dragons P15 33pts, 3 Sudbury P14 33pts, 4 Cambridge South P14 31pts, 5 Cambridge City IV P14 31pts, 6 Norwich City P14 21pts, 7 St Neots P14 12pts, 8 Spalding P14 12pts, 9 Dereham II P14 12pts, 10 Wisbech P14 11pts, 11 UEA P14 9pts, 12 Ipswich II P15 7pts.

City of Peterborough Ladies 2nds drew 0-0 with their own third team in Division Two. The second team are eighth, a place and a point above the thirds.

Bourne Deeping seconds remain top of Division after a 2-0 win at Cambridge City. The scorers for an unbeaten team were Ryan Matthews and James Risebrow.

And Bourne Deeping thirds toppled Division Five leaders City of Peterborough 6ths 4-0 with Chris Mann (2), Pete Moisey and Andrew Dodds the scorers.

Other City of Peterborough scores: Men: 2s beat UEA 2-1 (Tom Seaton, Josh Morley); 3s beat Wisbech 3-0. (Matt Smith, Jacob Hings, Andrew Fletcher); 4s beat Cambridge City 2-1 (Will Astbury, Manny Patel); 6s lost 0-4 to Bourne Deeping; 7s beat Long Sutton 3-2 (James Cooper, Sammy Spencer, Simon Leon); 8s lost 0-9 to Cambs South; U16s beat Old Loughtonians 8-0 (Charlie Cox 3, Oliver Drake 3, Harry Sutterby, Xander Hale)

Women: 4s lost 0-3 to St Ives; 5s lost 1-5 to Cambs South (Ellie Neal).

Other East League results: Men: Wisbech 2nds drew 1-1 with St Ives (Sam Markillie); Wisbech 3rds beat Wisbech 4ths 7-2; Wisbech 5ths drew 0-0 with Ely.

Women: Wisbech 2nds lost to Long Sutton 1-4 (Jane Peggs); Wisbech 3rds beat St Ives 2-1 (Fiona H-P, Elana Freedman); Wisbech 4ths beat Pelicans 2-1 (Annabelle McGregor 2); Wisbech 5ths lost to Ely 1-3 (Petra Crossley-King).

Mixed: Wisbech drew with Shefford & Sandy 2-2 (Jason Mallett 2).