The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
City return to form in stunning style
City of Peterborough have breathed life into their ailing National League campaign in spectacular style.
The city side had dropped from second to fourth after picking up just two points from their first three Midlands Conference League games of 2023, but they found their best form to crush Harleston Magpies 7-2 at Bretton Gate.
"We played very well,” City player-coach Gareth Andrew said. “Now we have to keep it up.”
City are unlikely to return to National League Division One at the first attempt as they need to finish top and leaders Harborne have shot away from the field.
But second-placed University of Nottingham seconds are catachable, although City have a tough game at fourth-placed Norwich City this Sunday.
Andrew, captain Joe Finding and young Matt Goodley scored two goals apiece against Harleston with Trevor Matthews also on target. City were 4-0 up at half-time and 6-1 up at the the end of three quarters.
Standings (all played 13 games): 1 Harborne 33pts, 2 University of Nottingham 26pts, 3 City of Peterborough 24pts, 4 Norwich City 23pts, 5 Harleston 18pts, 6 Bedford 16pts, 7 University of Birmingham 15pts, 8 St Albans 15pts, 9 Lichfield 11pts, 10 Loughborough 3pts.
City of Peterborough Ladies moved above Bury Edmunds into eighth place in the East Premier Division after beating them 5-1 at Bretton Gate.
Captain Tierney Augustine,
Naomi Smith, Lily Craven, Sophie Watts and Hope Elkins scored the goals.
City are at lowly Letchworth on Saturday.
Hayley Jeal smacked a hat-trick for mid-table City seconds as they won 4-0 at University of East Anglia in
Division One.
Bourne Deeping 1sts crushed City of Peterborough 4ths 9-4 in Division Two with Joseph Moisey hitting a first-half hat-trick.
City thirds are third at this level after a 7-0 rout of Cambridge City Vets. Josh Compton
hit a hat-trick.
City of Peterborough fifths gained a measure of local revenge by beating Bourne Deeping seconds 5-1 in Division Four. Phil Martin and Wayne Humphreys scored twice with Clive Sheridan also on target.