Home Defeat to the Champions!

Match Report - Premier League Phase 1 – Peterborough versus Kings Lynn -
21st October 202 Premier League – Phase 1
Peterborough versus Kings Lynn
21st October 2023 at Bushfields Leisure Centre, Peterborough 

Peterborough Squad

1. Anthony Williams (Goalkeeper – 2nd Half)
2. James Berry
3. Jake Reed
4. Josh Aaltonen
5. Michael Carter (Captain)
6. Harry Hillam
7. Luca Oakley
8. Tom Hillam

     10. Tyler Salmon (GK – 1st Half)

 Kings Lynn Squad
4  Josh Horn
5  Jack Tucker
6  Harvey Dugdale
7  Josh Taylor (Captain)
8  Jamie Griffin
10 Josh Roberts (Goalkeeper – 1st 40 minutes of match)
13 Ryan Barnes
14 Owen Norris
30 Imogen Senter (GK – last 10 minutes of match)
77 Beth McCarthy 

Referees:- 

• Steve Taylor
• Alan Adams

If anyone was in any doubt as to whether or not there would be any subdued, negative reaction to Kings Lynn's unsuccessful venture to playing at the Roller Hockey Champions League in Spain recently then you only had to arrive early at the Bushfields Leisure Centre at Peterborough to watch their match preparations for this game.  They arrived almost two hours before the planned start time and started their warm up routines straight away.  Amongst their differing activities was a game of football tennis.  That was an interesting spectacle.  Well.....all I can say is that with only one or two exceptions they need to stick to their given sport of roller hockey, at which they excel, and leave football to other more accomplished footballing athletes!  However, the overall message was clear....we are here to do a professional job and to take all of the match points.

The match started with both teams probing for that elusive first opportunity to create the chance to hit the target.  It eventually fell to Kings Lynn in the fifth minutes as they took the lead.  An excellent screening block by Owen Norris created the space for Josh Taylor to unleash one his trademark slapshots which flew into the top right-hand corner of the Peterborough net. 
Peterborough 0 Kings Lynn 1

Both teams continued to provide fast driving runs at their opponents' defensive lines and from one of those Peterborough levelled the score.  A short pass from Michael Carter to Luca Oakley started the move.  Luca quickly attacked down the right-hand side and from his cross rink pass to the unmarked Harry Hillam, in front of goal, a despairing lunge and fall by a Kings Lynn player meant that he had played the ball while down on the floor.  A penalty was duly awarded and was confidently smashed home by Jake Reed.  
Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 1

With 6 minutes left in the first half two of Kings Lynn's players linked up to score a fine goal.  The move started behind the Kings Lynn goal with Ryan Barnes setting off up the rink at speed.  He ran unchecked into the Peterborough half and exchanged a quick one two pass with Jack Tucker who placed the ball into Ryan's path and he confidently lifted his shot over the diving Tyler Salmon the Peterborough net.  
Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 2

​Half Time:- Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 2
 
With 8 minutes gone in the second half Kings Lynn increased their lead.  A Peterborough shot was charged down and the ball bounced kindly to Jack Tucker.  He sprinted forward, along with Owen Norris who was up in support which created a two against one situation with a Peterborough defender, and Jack's timely cross rink pass allowed Owen to sweep the ball under the diving Anthony Williams in the Peterborough goal. 
Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 3

Two minutes later and Kings Lynn increased their lead still further.  Jack Tucker intercepted a pass in front of his own goal and set up at speed to attack the Peterborough goal.  He found himself pushed wide of the goal but somehow he managed to get a hopeful shot away from an acute angle and somehow the ball squirmed under the goalie's body and trickled over the line.  
Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 4

The next action saw a Peterborough player given a blue card for a robust challenge on Owen Norris against the barrier.  Josh Taylor stepped up to take the direct hit only to see his shot saved by the Peterborough goalie.  This meant that Peterborough were still having to play through the powerplay period with 3 outer rink players.  Kings Lynn patiently moved the ball around the Peterborough players using the full width of the rink.  A gap appeared and a fine pass from Beth McCarthy found Harvey Dugdale in front of goal and he swept his shot into the net.  
Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 5

At this point in the match with Kings Lynn comfortable with their 4 four goals lead they changed over goalkeepers with Imogen Senter taking over from Josh Roberts.  Imogen must have been wondering what she had let herself in for as Peterborough hit four slapshots in just over a minute at her goal.  She dealt confidently with each one....much to the delight of the large travelling group of Kings Lynn supporters.  However, with 2 minutes left James Berry found a space to hit a fine shot past Imogen to score Peterborough's second goal.  
Peterborough 2 Kings Lynn 5
 
The final action of the game saw a direct shot awarded for a stick hook by a Peterborough player against a Kings Lynn attacker.  The direct was taken by Jack Tucker but unfortunately for him his shot was saved by the Peterborough goalie.

Final score – Peterborough 2 Kings Lynn 5
 
Arthur Corr’s (Peterborough Coach) Man of the Match:- James Berry - injected pace and aggression to the home team's play and scored a fine goal.

Kings Lynn defend so well as a single unit.  They are difficult to break down and if you can get past one defender there is always a second quickly covering to close any gaps.  On the occasions that Peterborough saw sight of goal their shots were comfortably dealt with by Josh Roberts in the Kings Lynn goal.  All of the Kings Lynn Team are accomplished "screeners".  They are all adept at screening an opponent to create that valuable space to allow a team mate to advance into a forward position. 

Peterborough still have a three goal gap to close to match up to Kings Lynn.  When they last met in April earlier this year the score was 6-3.  However, although not playing at their best in this match there were some positive steps forward and at the end of the first half (which was Peterborough's best period of play as they matched their experienced opponents) you could see that Kings Lynn "knew they were in a match" that they were going to have to work hard to be victorious in.  It proved to be the two quick Kings Lynn goals early in the second half which put them firmly in the "driving seat" in this game.

One final word about one of the referees, Steve Taylor.  He must have wondered why he was in the "direct firing line" throughout this match.  He showed nimble, ballet like balance to avoid being struck several times by deflections and wayward shots.  A tough job that shows that you must have full concentration at all times.