PREVIEW: City of Peterborough set to be crowned the Kings of the East for Christmas

City secured a stunning 3-0 East Premier B Division success over title rivals Old Loughtonians at Bretton Gate last weekend (November 26) to reach the top of the table for the first time.

If they claim their expected home win against Saffron Walden tomorrow (December 2, 1pm) they will stay there at least until the league returns to action in the middle of January.

“It was a richly deserved victory against Old Loughts,” insisted City manager Graham Finding. “It was a surprisingly comfortable win and the six-goal swing in goal difference could turn out to important.”

The Premier A Division is at the halfway point and City have been outstanding since losing their second game of the season at home to another title chaser St Albans.

Last Saturday’s win was a ninth in succession and owed plenty to a blistering start which saw Ross Ambler score twice in the opening five minutes.

The impressive Danny Sisson added a third goal midway through the second-half after City had resisted some pressure from the visitors.

City won 5-3 at Saffron Walden on the opening day of the season, but would expect to win more comfortably on their own patch.

It could well be a double celebration at City as the club’s second team are top of the Premier B Division after another swing in fortunes involving local rivals Spalding.

Spalding thumped City 6-2 to return to the top of the table on November 19, but an agonising 4-3 defeat at home to Norwich City last weekend gave City, 5-0 winners at Waltham Forest, the chance to take over again.

Spalding had an extra chance to reclaim first place the following day, but were held to a 5-5 draw by Cambridge University seconds.

Spalding led 3-2 with five minutes to go against a Norwich side who are now second.

City thirds were minutes away from a first win of the season in Division One when Bishop’s Stortford grabbed a late leveller. Julian Catto and Shane Vincent scored for City.

Spalding fourths have reached the halfway stage of the Division Six season with a 100 per cent winning record. Sean Dewing scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win at Alford seconds to make it nine wins out of nine, 63 goals scored and just six conceded.

City of Peterborough Ladies are fourth going into their final game before the mid-winter break at struggling Lowestoft tomorrow.

City of Peterborough second-teamer Meg Petherick is leaving the club to return to her native New Zealand. She signed off in style with two goals in a 2-2 draw against the Cambridge University third team.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 3

EAST LEAGUE

Men

Premier A Division: City of Peterborough v Saffron Walden.

Division One: City of Peterborough 3rds v Cambridge City 3rds, Wapping 2nds v Long Sutton.

Division Two North: Pelicans v March.

Division Three North West: Long Sutton 2nds v Cambridge City Vets, Spalding 3rds v St Neots, Ely v Spalding 2nds, Leadenham v City of Peterborough 4ths, Bourne Deeping 2nds v Wisbech 2nds.

Division Four North West: Wisbech 3rds v Bourne Deeping 3rds, City of Peterborough 5ths v Cambridge South 2nds, Cambridge City 5ths v City of Peterborough 6ths.

Division Five North West: St Ives 3rds v City of Peterborough 7ths, March 2nds v Bourne Deeping 4ths, City of Peterborough 8ths v Horncastle 2nds.

Division Six North West (North): Wisbech 4ths v Bourne Deeping 3rds, Alford 2nds v Long Sutton 3rds, Long Sutton 4ths v Louth 2nds, Bourne Deeping 6ths v Leadenham 2nds.

Ladies

Premier Division: Holcombe 1A v Wisbech.

Division One North: Lowestoft v City of Peterborough.

Division Two North West: Long Sutton v Wisbech 2nds, City of Peterborough 2nds v Alford, St Neots v Spalding, Bourne Deeping v Newmarket.

Division Three North West: Spalding 2nds v Ely, Cambridge South v City of Peterborough 3rds, Wisbech 3rds v Horncastle.

Division Four North West (North): Skegness v Bourne Deeping 2nds, City of Peterborough 4ths v Leadenham, March v Woodhall Spa, Spilsby v Spalding 3rds, Bourne Deeping 3rds v Long Sutton 2nds.