Sports are almost safe and sound

Peterborough Sports virtually secured a third season of National League North football with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Farsley Celtic at PIMS Park on Tuesday.

A second-half strike from in-form Dan Jarvis delivered victory against a team who had beaten Sports by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture on Saturday.

Sports are now five points and five places above the relegation zone with two games to go, at neighbours King’s Lynn Town on Saturday and then at home to play-off bound Chorley on April 20.

Two points would definitely ensure survival, but the reality is Sports have probably done enough as, for instance, rivals Blyth Spartans have games against second-placed Scunthorpe and third-placed Brackley to play and they need to win them both to get past Sports.

"It will take an unlikely set of results to relegate us now,” Sports’ joint-boss Michael Gash said. “But we will keep going and see how high we can finish.”

SPORTS v FARSLEY

Sports were the better side in the first half and should have taken a lead into the interval.

The visiting ‘keeper made two great saves to thwart Mark Jones and another to keep a Jarvis follow-up out in the opening 20 minutes.

Failing to convert pressure into goals looked set to haunt Sports as Farsley delivered their best spell of the game in the opening 10 minutes of the second-half as they forced a succession of corners that were well defended.

But Sports weathered the storm and when Jarvis fired into the corner on 56 minutes following a set-up from Matt Tootle they gained confidence on the ball, while also digging in impressively at the back.

Farsley only threatened to score in added time, but they could find no way past Sports’ keeper Peter Crook, while Cambridge United loanee Brandon Njoku twice went close at the other end.

FARSLEY v SPORTS

An 89th minute penalty miss from skipper Dan Lawlor confirmed a 1-0 defeat in Yorkshire for Sports.

Lawlor struck a post and when centre-back Rory McAuley sliced a great chance wide a couple of minutes later the city side were forced to accept defeat.

A strong wind blew straight down the pitch and Sports played better against the elements in the first half than they did with them in their favour after the break.

Gash and Njoku forced fine saves from the home goalkeeper in the first-half, but they fell to defeat to a header from a 67th minute corner.

Sports will have a tough time at Lynn on Saturday as their hosts are in good form. But they are only above Sports on goal difference after a midweek home win over Chorley.

Sports centre-back Ryan Fryatt, a former King’s Lynn player, is available after a suspension. Gash is also a former Lynn star as is McAuley.

“It’s always good to go back to Lynn,” Gash admitted. “But I have a job to do and a game to win for Sports.”