Two wins in Two Nights

Match Report - Premier League Phase 2 – Peterborough versus Cambridge & Cottenham - 13th May 2023
Match Report by Terry Oakley
Premier League – Phase 2
Peterborough versus Cambridge & Cottenham
13th May 2023 at Bushfields Leisure Centre, Peterborough

Peterborough Squad 
1  Anthony Williams (Goalkeeper – played whole game)
2  Tom Hillam
3  Jake Reed
4  Declan Lander
5  Michael Carter (Captain)
6  Harry Hillam
7  Josh Aaltonen
8  Luca Oakley
9  James Berry
10 Tyler Salmon (Goalkeeper)

Cambridge & Cottenham Squad (Just the name of “Cambridge” used throughout the report below)

1    Elise Cakebread (Goalkeeper)
3    Maddie Key
5    Josh Barker
16  Ben Allard
18  Jensen Richards
19  Conner Adams (Captain)
21  Alfie Newton
77  Dan Milne (Goalkeeper – played whole game)

Referee:- Stephane Bauguitte 
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Cambridge were off to a flying start.  A cross rink pass from Peterborough struck the barrier and was not collected.  The bounce of the ball wrong footed the Peterborough player and was scooped up by Jensen Richards who set off towards goal with his team mate Conner Adams up in support to give them a 2 on 1 advantage against a Peterborough defender.  Jensen bided his time until the time was right and he pushed a short pass to Conner who smashed the ball home.  Peterborough 0 Cambridge 1 

Michael Carter was next to get his name on the scoresheet.  Michael progressed down Cambridge’s left hand side and although he was faced with two defenders he was able to get a perfectly placed flick shot across the front of the goalkeeper and into the top left hand corner of the net.    Peterborough 1 Cambridge 1 

The next action involved Jake Reed.  He set off at high speed down Cambridge’s left hand defence and was able to get around the back the their goal and as he emerged back in front he was able to lift the ball into the air and smash it over the helpless Cambridge keeper.  The delight on Jake’s face as he took his place in the restart line up was a clear measure of how much he enjoyed that spectacular goal.  Peterborough 2 Cambridge 1
 
Cambridge were not to be denied and they quickly pulled themselves level.  A ball spun loose behind the Peterborough goal and this was quickly retrieved by Ben Allard.  He spun away from his marker and placed a short pass to Jensen Richards who swiftly despatched his shot into the net from a tight angle.  
Peterborough 2 Cambridge 2 

Cambridge then went ahead for the second time in this match.  A cross rink pass by a Peterborough player bounced awkwardly off the wall and fell kindly for Ben Allard in the centre circle.  He found himself in space and he confidently advanced forward and smashed an unstoppable slapshot into the Peterborough net.  
Peterborough 2 Cambridge 3 

Next followed a flurry of Peterborough attacks that involved play around the back of the Cambridge goal.  From one of those Michael Carter emerged with the ball after wining a crucial tackle and he quickly played a short pass into Luca Oakley who confidently smashed the ball past the Cambridge keeper.  
Peterborough 3 Cambridge 3 

It was then the turn of the two “older heads” in the Peterborough Team to link up to provide the next goal just before the halftime break.  Jake Reed “screened” two Cambridge players which provided the necessary space for Michael Carter to wind up and hit an unstoppable reverse slapshot into the Cambridge net.  
Peterborough 4 Cambridge 3 

Half Time:- Peterborough 4 Cambridge 3 

Shortly after the break it looked as if Peterborough had taken a real foothold in this game by scoring two goals in quick succession.  Firstly, Luca Oakley made a strong run down the Cambridge left defence and he slipped a short pass inside to Michael Carter who in turn helped that pass onto the unmarked James Berry at the back post and he swept the ball home.  
Peterborough 5 Cambridge 3
 
Peterborough then scored another goal quickly after the previous one.  A quick inter change of passes between James Berry and Jake Reed freed up James down the Cambridge right.  James spun away from his marker and placed a short pass into the supporting run from Jake and he smashed the ball home.  
Peterborough 6 Cambridge 3 

At this stage of the match there was still 10 minutes left of play on the clock.  You could visibly see that Peterborough legs were tiring as gaps were appearing in their defensive play.  Cambridge took full advantage of this and created their next goal.  A strong forward run by Alfie Newton enabled him the space to hit a hard pass towards the Peterborough goal and Josh Barker cleverly deflected the ball past the unsighted Anthony Williams in the Peterborough goal.  
Peterborough 6 Cambridge 4 
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Cambridge clearly sensed that another goal was within their reach.  A good run by Ben Allard into the heart of the Peterborough defence enabled him to place a short pass into the fast arriving Jensen Richards and he confidently deflected the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.  
Peterborough 6 Cambridge 5

Final score –Peterborough 6 Cambridge & Cottenham 5
 
Arthur Corr’s (Peterborough Coach) Man of the Match:- Anthony Williams 
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In the earlier stages of this match the score see-sawed back and forth as each side strove to take command.  Then after 15 minutes of the second half Peterborough pushed ahead with two quick goals within a couple of minutes to make the score 6 – 3.  Cambridge would not capitulate and forced themselves back into the game by replying with two goals of their own. 

Cambridge have a game plan that works for them and they are good at it.  They essentially set up in a defensive line up and wait for their opponents to make a mistake.  They then latch onto the loose ball and hit you at speed on the break.  That strategy combined with set moves of lofting passes and hitting slapshots into the opposing team’s penalty area for a team mate to deflect the ball past the unsighted goalkeeper makes them a dangerous opponent and in this match they were always in touching distance of securing a draw or victory.

On a positive note for the Peterborough Team, to have to perform in two Premier League matches in less than 24 hours showed that although fatigue was obvious in the closing stages of this game they had the character to see things through to a positive result.​ 
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A special mention must be made about the referee in this match.  Stephane Bauguitte was the lone official appointed for this fixture and he did a sterling job in keeping the game moving without hardly any contested decisions.  Top marks to Stephane!