Peterborough Sports H, Saturday 06.01.24

[Steve T]

Make or break for MJ? Anyone who thought a few weeks ago that PS might be one of the lesser teams that Banbury had a better chance of beating should think again. They have improved considerably since October when they beat a Banbury side that was showing signs of improvement. Eight wins in 14 games had taken them ten places up the table until they slipped back a place yesterday with Warrington's win against Chester. It's true that with the exception of the failing South Shields, most of their victories have been against teams in the bottom half but that includes the improving Warrington.

A win will prove little and a draw might prolong the agony. What will a defeat do?

Peterborough Sports this season:

H  W  1-0  Scarborough 
A  D  1-1  Scunthorpe 
A  L  1-2  Alfreton 
H  L  0-2  Spennymoor 
A  W  1-0  Hereford
H  L  0-3  Brackley 
A  L  0-1  Rushall 
H  D  1-1  Curzon Ashton
A  L  0-3  Tamworth
H  L  2-4  South Shields
A  L  2-3  Chester
H  W  2-0  Banbury 
H  W  2-0  Southport
A  D  2-2  Buxton
A  W  1-0  Warrington 
H  D  1-1  King's Lynn 
H  W  2-0  Darlington
A  L  0-2  Chorley
H  L  0-2  Boston 
A  W  3-2  Blyth 
A  L  1-2  Gloucester 
A  W  2-1  South Shields
H  L  1-4  Tamworth
A  W  2-0  Bishop's Stortford
H  W  4-2  Bishop's Stortford

To Chester W2 D2 L7 (23rd), since W8 D2 L4.

[buzz]

If Peterborough Sports can put a decent team together and compete at this level with small crowds then surely we should be able to

[Sparky]

Jan 2, 2024 14:59:50 GMT 1 buzz said:

If Peterborough Sports can put a decent team together and compete at this level with small crowds then surely we should be able to

Depends if there is anyone in the background bankrolling them.

[puritanmk]

Assuming the water levels drop? All a bit damp in the area.

[Steve T]

Jan 2, 2024 15:28:06 GMT 1 puritanmk said:

Assuming the water levels drop? All a bit damp in the area.

Earlier today. It'll be OK by Saturday.





The following two weekends will be interesting – trips to Blyth and Spennymoor, the weather set to turn colder and the prospect of postponements and midweek trips up there.

[Steve T]

Postponed, even though the river has fallen more than three feet from its peak on Tuesday.

[Sparky]

Limited damage done today,dropped one place with Rushall surprisingly winning at Chester. Still doesn’t alter the fact that our form has to dramatically improve.

[Steve T]

For Banbury to have been in the bottom four tonight, Southport, Rushall and KL all had to win. Football being what it is, Rushall had the least likely victory. Southport scored twice in the last 8 minutes to draw at Gloucester. Darlington's 90th minute winner was welcome in that it kept KL down but is it a sign of a revival under their new manager? If Banbury are still struggling at the end of the month, they won't want to face an improving team.

Still, Banbury's bonus break has given the players a nice rest before their trip into the deep, dark forest of Eynsham Hall on Tuesday. Remarkably few matches were called off today. Here's the stadium yesterday afternoon. Draw your own conclusions...

[didier]

The current league table, no need for "The Great Escape" campaign to start just yet but ... ;

[Steve T]

South Shields and Spennymoor continue to stumble. Moors are another club who have cut their budget. Long-time members of the southern section, Havant & Waterlooville and Eastbourne Borough are also both struggling. There have been changes of manager at both and a change of ownership at the latter but it shows, along with Spennymoor, that even well-run clubs with experience not just of surviving but prospering at this level can have their difficulties.

No smirking at the back for another Step 2 club in a bit of bother. Taunton started the season with substantially the same squad that finished 22-23 a comfortable 14th with 61 points and at the end of September were top with just one defeat in their first 11 matches. Since then they've won only one in 11 and have fallen to 19th, five points above the relegation zone (but with several games in hand). Five players have left the club in the last month, with budget cuts biting. Postponements of home games hasn't helped – they lost their New Year's Eve sellout with Yeovil to the weather – but that doesn't explain the cuts. There's been a social media spat between the chairman and some of the players. That's bad news anywhere.

[puritanmk]

Kings Lynn have announced new investors. www.kltown.co.uk/2024/01/08/statement-turn-sports-investments-and-kings-lynn-town-football-club/

[Steve T]

Some of their supporters (on their forum) aren't entirely convinced.

[didier]

Jan 8, 2024 18:14:01 GMT 1 Steve T said:

Some of their supporters (on their forum) aren't entirely convinced.

Hmmm, can't blame them !

Would be nice for football if new "investors" had to submit a minimum of one seasons projected financial commitments of the club into an escrow account so that if/when it turns into the mucky stuff that the club has a year to prepare for reduction in funding or could find other "investors"





.... but there again it'd be nice if I won the Euromillions !