The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Three big points in the bag even though the ball wasn’t in the net
Whittlesey Blue Star won for the first time in three months - thanks to a goal that never was.
Micky Burch’s side snapped a long barren run when seeing off Uppingham 2- 1 last Saturday to pull clear of the Premier Division drop- zone.
But jubilant boss Burch was the first to admit that James West’s crucial strike did not cross the line, even though it was given by referee Gabriel Rabatin.
Burch said: “The second goal was never in. An Uppingham player cleared it off the line but the referee gave it.
“It is a massive stroke of luck for us but we’ll certainly take it.”
That ‘ goal’ wasn’t the end of the drama as keeper Craig Hassock had to pull off a late penalty save to preserve Blue Star’s advantage.
Hassock had earlier been beaten from the spot as the visitors opened the scoring but West levelled as half- time approached before grabbing the controversial winner in the second period.
Burch added: “This is a massive result in our season made all the more impressive given we had five important players out.
“I’m not worried about statistics or how long it has been since our last win.
“As long as we finish no worse than third- bottom at the end of the season we will be happy.”
Referee Rabatin showed seven yellow cards and one red card in a fiery contest.
Uppingham player Rob Lawrie was the man dismissed and Burch was aggrieved that more members of the visiting team did not get a nearly bath.
Across town Coates eased their relegation fears by claiming derby glory against Whittlesey United.
One- time Posh star Garry Butterworth rolled back the years with a stunning freekick strike to set Gary Munns’ men on the way to a priceless 2- 1 victory.
And prolific striker Mark Newton made a goalscoring return to the club when tucking away a second- half penalty to seal the points after John Reddell had hauled Whittlesey level.
Newton topped the Premier Division scoring charts last season but departed for Cambs League side Wisbech St Mary in the summer.
Munns persuaded the target man toreturn on der by day as the Saints were without a fixture.
Munns said:“You only have to look at our league position to see how much we have missed Mark.
“We’ve been a top- half team with him and this season without him we’re scrapping to stay up.
“We are a completely different proposition with him in the side and he helped us pick up three big points that were desperately needed.
“One win doesn’t change the fact that we’re in a relegation fight though.
“The three teams below us have anything from two or four matches in hand so we have to continue picking up results.”
Coates are four points clear of the bottom two which is filled by basement side Riverside and Kings Cliffe, who were thumped 7- 1 by tabletoppers Peterborough Sports last Saturday.
Leverington were another bottom- half team to triumph last weekend when goals from Sam Cubberley, Jason Day, Joe Green and Chris Mc Aree earned a 4- 2 triumph at Deeping Rangers Reserves.
Striker Jake Mason made a goalscoring debut as Pinchbeck shared the spoils in a 2- 2 draw with Stilton. Simon Denning bagged both Stilt on goals.