Cambridgeshire F.A. Cliff Bullen Challenge Cup

Semi Final

Saturday 23rd February 2019

Kick Off 13.45 Actual 13.48

Thorney 1 Whittlesey Athletic 2, attendance 53

4’ 0-1

88’ 1-1

90’ + 4, 1-2 (pen)

@ Campbell Drive Playing Fields

Campbell Drive

Gunthorpe

Peterborough

PE4 7ZL

No Admission or Programme.

I wasn’t really sure what standing this competition had, as it involves teams from the Cambridgeshire County League and the Peterborough & District League, but it is certainly a long standing competition. It was first played for in 1897, under the name of ‘Senior Cup’, before becoming the Challenge Cup in 1921 and then adding Cliff Bullen to its name in 2004. The other semi final tie was an all Cambridgeshire County League affair, whilst this one was between two teams in the Premier Division of the Peterborough & District League, which was 3rd versus 7th as far as league positions go.

Over the last couple of years I have only seen matches in this league during the late July groundhops, where the football has been awful, as teams still have players on holiday and it is just too early in the season for them to have gained any match fitness. However, watching a match when both teams are fully in the swing of things, certainly makes this league look much better than the impression gained during the ‘hops. It is also nice to see a match under normal conditions and of course, there are no ‘rip off’ admission charges, or one off programmes produced for the match either.

Whittlesey went ahead early on, but just couldn’t get the second goal to kill the game off. Both teams had chances to score, although it looked like the one goal would decide it. With two minutes left, the inevitable happened, when Thorney scrambled in an equaliser out of nothing and it looked like we would be heading to penalties to decide it, as there would be no extra time, but four minutes into stoppage time Whittlesey were awarded a penalty and duly scored. A further four minutes were played, in which Thorney had a couple of good chances, but the visitors held on.

Football League Youth Alliance

Merit League 1

Saturday 23rd February 2019

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.02

Peterborough United U18 1 Southend United U18 2, attendance 45

32’ 0-1

46’ 0-2 (pen)

75’ 1-2 (pen)

@ Mick George Training Academy

Nene Park Academy

Oundle Road

Orton Longueville

Peterborough

PE2 7EA

No Admission or Programme.

I hadn’t realised just how long ago it was that I last saw a youth match of Peterborough United. It was back on 19th September 1998, when I saw the U19’s draw 2-2 versus Liverpool. The match that day was played at ‘Woodlands’ in Splash Lane, Castor, but these days they have their own training ground, which is part of Nene Park Academy, although it is separated with mesh fencing and the grass pitches are only accessible through one gate, which is to the left hand side of the 3G caged pitch that is behind the changing room building.

There was no problem gaining access to watch the match, with spectators limited to watching along one side of the pitch only. For anyone who wants to watch the U16’s, who play their games on the 3G pitch, viewing is through the fence only.

Peterborough started off on top, but Southend were making the more clear cut chances. Indeed, it was the visitors who went ahead just after the half hour mark with an angled shot into the far corner of the net. They made it 0-2 when they were awarded a penalty less than 10 seconds into the second half, which was duly dispatched. Peterborough reduced the arrears with a penalty of their own, but Southend deservedly held on for the win.