Impressive Performance is Still Not Enough.

Match Report - Premier League Phase 2 – Peterborough versus Kings Lynn - 14th April 2023

Premier League – Phase 2
Peterborough versus Kings Lyn 
14th April 2023 at Bushfields Leisure Centre, Peterborough

Peterborough Squad

1. Anthony Williams (Goalkeeper – 2nd Half)
2. Tom Hillam
3. Jake Reed
4. Declan Lander
5. Michael Carter (Captain)
6. Harry Hillam
7. Josh Aaltonen
8. Luca Oakley
9. Lilly Messenger
10. Tyler Salmon (GK – 1st Half)

Kings Lynn Squad
4  Joseph Hawes
5  Jack Tucker
6  Harvey Dugdale
7  Josh Taylor (Captain)
8  Jamie Griffin
10 Josh Roberts (Goalkeeper – 1st Half)
13 Ryan Barnes
14 Owen Norris
20 Tommy Allander (GK – 2nd Half)
55 Thomas Barker

Referees:-

• Steve Taylor
• Jason Oldroyd

After 90 seconds of play Peterborough took the lead with a goal from Luca Oakley.  He went past two players and cut inside from the left and as another defender came in to challenge him he hit a reverse slapshot at goal which beat the unsighted Kings Lynn Keeper.  Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 0 
Following this fast start by Peterborough, Kings Lynn responded when Jack Tucker hit a fine slapshot from the half way line which struck the Peterborough crossbar and bounced to safety.  Kings Lynn continued to press for the equaliser and a positive run from Josh Taylor down Peterborough’s left hand defence resulted in Ryan Barnes cleverly spinning into space in front of the Peterborough goal, losing his defensive marker in the process, and a simple cross rink pass from Josh was confidently swept home by Ryan.  
Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 1

Peterborough then conceded a poor second goal when Ryan Barnes sent in a hopeful flick shot/pass from the half way line which found it’s way into the Peterborough net.  It looked as if Josh Taylor’s cross rink run in front of the goal caused Tyler Salmon in the Peterborough goal to be unsighted as the ball hit the back of the net.  Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 2

The aggressive, marauding runs by Jamie Griffin were injecting much energy into the Kings Lynn play and from one of his runs, which took him behind and around the Peterborough goal, he was able to despatch a shot which was partially saved by Tyler Salmon.  However, the ball ran loose to Owen Norris and he was able to slide his shot under the Peterborough goalkeeper.  Peterborough 1 Kings Lynn 3

Peterborough responded with a fine run from Josh Aaltonen down Kings Lynn’s left defence and his short cross rink pass found Jake Reed in space and he confidently finished off the move with a shot across the front of the Kings Lynn Keeper.  Peterborough 2 Kings Lynn 3

At this stage of the match both goalkeepers were making fine saves from accurate slapshots being constantly fired at them but overall Peterborough were now in the ascendancy.  They clearly sensed that an equaliser was possible as they were attacking with speed and purpose following their second goal.  However, the “wind was removed from their sails” when the referee awarded a penalty to Kings Lynn for a “ball kick” in the Peterborough penalty area.  Jack Tucker stepped forward to take the responsibility of the penalty shot only to find Tyler Salmon make a fine diving save to his right.  Jack Tucker quickly retrieved the ball from the corner of the rink and placed a fine cross rink pass to the fast arriving Joseph Hawes, who had sped ahead of all of the recovering players from the far end of the rink, and he gleefully swept the ball under the diving goalkeeper’s body.  Peterborough 2 Kings Lynn 4

Half Time:- Peterborough 2 Kings Lynn 4

Play was continuing to be fast and furious from both teams.  However, in one of the calmer moments in this match, Michael Carter won a tackle in front of his own goal and went on one of his typical runs down Kings Lynn’s left defence and scored a fine goal with a flick shot from a tight angle.  Nobody expected his shot but he has this gift whereby he is able to disguise his shot with speed and accuracy with hardly any back lift of his stick.  Peterborough 3 Kings Lynn 4

The next period of play was evenly matched with both teams attacking at will and flurries of slapshots being sent towards both goals with both goalkeepers playing well.  Anthony Williams, in particular, made a fine double save to deny two quick snap shots from Kings Lynn attackers.  Peterborough then gifted Kings Lynn with their fifth goal.  A Peterborough defender emerged from behind his own goal and attempted to break forward with the ball.  However, the ever alert Owen Norris quickly won a tackle against him and passed the ball to the unmarked Jamie Griffin who confidently swept home his shot under the diving Peterborough goalie.  Peterborough 3 Kings Lynn 5

Kings Lynn pushed forward again as two of their players, Jack Tucker and Owen Norris, broke through the tiring Peterborough defence and went two against one with Anthony Williams in the Peterborough goal.  Quick passes were exchanged between the two attacking players but Jack Tucker’s shot produced a fine save from the Peterborough goalie.  However, Kings Lynn were not to be denied a sixth goal.  A loose pass was intercepted in the mid rink area by Owen Norris.  He quickly broke forward with Ryan Barnes and this created a two against one situation with a Peterborough defender.  Owen continued his run forward and finished confidently past the exposed goalkeeper to continue his goal scoring spree against this Peterborough Team.  Peterborough 3 Kings Lynn 6

Final score – Peterborough 3 Kings Lynn 6 
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Arthur Corr’s (Peterborough Coach) Man of the Match:- Luca Oakley 
Pleasingly from a Peterborough point of view is that the gap between these two teams is closing.  If you go back approximately twelve months the score line was a 12-1 victory to Kings Lynn.  The big difference now is that Peterborough are not timid in their play against Kings Lynn as they used to be, have gained valuable experience in Premier League hockey, and are now confident to take the game to the reigning champions. 

Peterborough still need to reduce the number of mistakes being made.  Five of the six goals scored by Kings Lynn resulted from Peterborough errors.  Kings Lynn displayed clinical finishing in taking full advantage of those errors.

Make no mistake, Kings Lynn are a strong team.  In particular when defending they are very difficult to break down as they back one another up so well and deny the attackers space behind them.  On the occasions you do get behind them they have two very, very capable goalkeepers offering their skills to act as a second line of defence.