The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Title race will turn into a survival of the fittest
Football - Up and down week on and off the field for city side
Peterborough Sports manager Jimmy Dean believes the Southern League Premier Division Central title race will come down to a survival of the fittest.
Dean was impressed with how his side reacted to a first defeat of the season at home to Leiston (1-2) last weekend with a 2-0 win over promotion fancies Tamworth at the Bee Arena on Tuesday.
Goals from Ryan Fryatt and Dion Sembie-Ferris secured the win that propelled Sports three points clear at the top.
Leiston had claimed a winner from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Dan Lawlor had equalised, also with a penalty.
It’s been an up and down week for Sports off the field also as top forward Maniche Sani has been ruled out for the season with a knee ligament injury.
Dean did manage to bring in a new player to play against Tamworth - Luke WarnerEley, a left-back formerly of St Albans FC.
“We were very good against Tamworth,” Dean stated. “It was the reaction I wanted after playing poorly against Leiston.
“We controlled the game
from start to finish and only last-ditch defending stopped us winning by more.
“Both teams were hampered by injuries, but that’s what this season is going to be like. Whoever can field their strongest team most often will probably win the league.
“We had Michael Gash and Jordan Nicholson back for the Tamworth game which helped
us. Jordan in particular was excellent.
“Losing Maniche is a huge blow for us. He’s a great player who could go on to bigger and better things so I feel for him as it’s a massive setback to miss a whole season. “I brought in a good player in Luke for Tuesday night and I will try and get another one in before we play an
other league match.”
Sports start a run of four consecutive away games in 12 days at Redditch on September 25.
“That’s a tough run so we will need everyone available,” Dean added.
“We’ve played a lot of home games so far, but how we reacted to a tough week on and off the field makes me think we have a great chance this season - as long as we can keep everyone fit.”
Jimmy Dean: ‘Losing Maniche for the season is a huge blow.”