Promotion hopes dashed in Norfolk

Any lingering hopes of National League promotion for City of Peterborough were dashed in Norwich.

City went down 4-2 at Norwich City and have dropped to fourth in the Conference Midlands table, a huge 12 points behind leaders Harborne.

City played well in bursts in Norfolk and recovered from conceding an early goal to lead 2-1 with goals from Matt Porter and Joe Finding, the later netting with a speedy drag flick from a penalty corner.

Ths hosts battled back to regain the lead in the secondhalf and sealed the points that took them into third with a late goal moments after City had seen a shot cleared off the line.

City host eighth-placed Bedford at Bretton Gate on Sunday (2pm).

City seconds need to win their final four games of the season to avoid relegation from the East Premier Division after a 3-1 defeat to Cambridge City. Dan Barkworth scored the goal.

Spalding also look likely to go down after a 1-0 loss at Saffron Walden.

City thirds have had a good season in Division Two and stayed third after a 2-2 draw against St Ives. Tom Seaton and Jacob Hings scored.

City fourths won 2-0 at

Cambridge City in the same section thanks to two goals from Matt Carson-Doughty, while veteran goalkeeper Jonathan Short saved a penalty.

LADIES

City of Peterborough 1sts were frustrated by lowly Letchworth in a goalless East Premier Division fixture at Bretton Gate. They remain eighth in the table, but have no fixture this weekend.

City seconds fought hard, but went down 1-0 at home to Norwich Dragons in Division

One.

Set-piece specialist Andrea Howard scored her fifth goal of the season from a short corner as City fourths beat Cambridge City 1-0 in a Division Four contest.

RESULTS/SCORERS East League

Men

Premier Division: City of P’boro 1 (Barkworth), Cambridge City 3; Saffron Walden 1, Spalding 0.

Division Two: Ely 2, Bourne Deeping 3; St Ives 2, City of P’boro 3rds 2 (Hings, Seaton);

City of P’boro 4ths 2, Cambridge City 0 (CarsonDoughty 2).

Division Three: Spalding 2nds 0, Bourne Deeping 2nds 1; March 12, Kettering 1; Cambridge South 3, City of P’Boro 5ths 0.

Division Four: St Ives 3, Bourne Deeping 3rds 3; City of P’boro 6ths 0, Spalding 3rds 3.

Division Five: City of P’boro 2 (Biccarino, Darnell), Ely 5; Bourne Deeping 4ths 2, St Neots 1; Long Sutton 1, City of P’boro 7ths 2 (Martin, Wilson).

Ladies

Premier Division: City of P’boro 0, Letchworth 0.

Division One: City of P’boro 2nds 0, Norwich Dragons 1.

Division Two: Cambridge South 1, City of P’boro 3rds 1 ( Faux); Newmarket 4, Bourne Deeping 1.

Division Three: Bourne Deeping 2nds 0, Kettering 6.

Division Four: City of P’boro 4ths 1 (Howard), Cambridge City 0.

Division Five: City of P’boro 5ths 0, Wisbech 4ths 0; Wisbech 3rds 4, City of P’boro 5ths 0.

Eva Stones (red) in action for City of Peterborough Ladies 2nds v Norwich Dragons. Photos; David Lowndes.

Lauren Finding in possession for City of Peterborough 2nds v Norwich Dragons.

Amelia Shepherd on the ball for City of Peterborough 2nds v Norwich Dragons