Peterborough Sports 2-0 Farsley CelticĀ (National League North)

Last time I was at Pims Park late last season in April sunshine I watched Peterborough Sports play Farsley in a game that would go towards securing National League North status for the home side, the visitors looked doomed after a 1-0 defeat but eventually survived the drop on a technicality despite finishing in the relegation places, this season for Peterborough looks much better sitting in mid table but for Farsley same woes, even worse, now without a home, they play their games at Buxton following some pitch issues at the Citadel, they have a new Manager in Neil Redfearn, a young side, too young perhaps, and are hovering dangerously close to the relegation places without a win in six.
Iāve been filing a report on MK Dons today, itās taken most of my day up so Iām glad to get it done before heading out at 5pm, down the A52 and onto the A1 south towards Peterborough where Iāve not been for a good while due to not really liking the venue too much. I can never really find a good vantage point so itās not the easiest ground to scout from. Only small in size the seats on offer have never been the best and believe me, I've tried a few different locations from pitch side perimeter to sitting as high and as low as possible. It's not one I look forward to but an hour or so drive is one where I quite enjoy the commute.
Finally arriving at 6:30pm where I park up on a side street, Iāve plenty of time for a couple of phone calls before walking over to the ground on Lincoln Road, a few changes since the last visit though as I canāt seem to find the entrance?
The Venue
Theyāve moved the turnstiles from where they were last season, towards the back of the ground where the clubhouse is at, so I walk through the car park, still decorated with pretty trees which always impresses me, and towards the new turnstile where my name is on the list.
Inside the ground I notice changes too, thereās a huge new stand hogging the left touchline which is great news for me as the old one where I often sat wasnāt the best place to watch the game, orange and black seats, the Turbines new colours, everything is well covered as I walk down the line and see racing seats for the Directors at the back, before noticing a press area on half way, tables and chairs, this was highly unexpected, as I park myself down to see that we even have plug sockets to use if needed.
Since my first visit three years ago this place has really come on, new stands seem to pop up each time I come and it has turned into a really decent set up from the quaint and quiet quintessential non-league beginnings, the side Iām sat in is near all covered with terracing to my left, seats to my right, the stand behind the goal roofed and elevated, on my first visit in 2023 there was nothing but hedgerows and houses behind that same goal, now look at it, a fine viewing platform with covered standing room only fit for a good few hundred or more fans. Not tonight however as they'll be a handful sporadically spread at most.
The Game
From my new seat on halfway Iām joined by a scout who works as a rival data analyst who Iāve seen on the road a few times, from Leicester, he usually covers Brackley Town games.
Thereās a bit of drizzle in the air and a chill, the dark skies only slightly brightened by the dim floodlights as smoke from a nearby fire fills in the air, Peterborough looking all men like in clockwork orange whilst Farsley look young, teen boyish faces dressed in Celtic hoops of green and white.
The game starts to a lively tempo, Peterborough Sports managed by Luke Steele and Michael Gash whoās on the pitch at centre half, direct but game, they break the lines from midfield and are positive in everything they do, this young Farsley team however have some teenage talent, technical footballers who work their socks off and fight for everything, they impress me as they did in a recent beating at Scunthorpe, you feel their players, mostly, arenāt ready for this level, but they arenāt out of place at the level, just lacking a spine of experience to help guide them away from trouble.
Peterborough have shot after shot, a busy keeper is Farsleyās Will Brook who is tall and agile and makes a number of good stops before finally Max Booth heads home a cracker from a right wing centre on 32.
That goal has the crowd of 191 largely break cheer but despite the hosts dominance Iām impressed with Farsleyās endeavour, apparently the highest ranked village club in England Iām told, Isaac Abankwah looks a bloody good defender at right back, Cole Hyde looks hardly old enough for shaving but heās running around on the pitch like a player 15 years his senior, heās only 18 but to me looks a real prospect and is far from out of his depth battling against men in the centre of the park.
Iām also impressed with Robbie Fox up front, tall and strong with good feet, whilst Manny Mampala wearing 18 is equally as large, the Farsley team has plenty of big lads, not aggressive, they are decent in the air and compete with what is a solid unspectacular Peterborough Sports side, they do have plenty of diminutive little souls though and at this level you feel that size matters most.
The Score
Itās 1-0 at the break and both sides would probably take that, Sports you feel have the strength to go on and run away with things but Farsley until theyāre out of it, arenāt out of it. They had a good chance towards the end of the first half when Fox forced a stop from Crook, but the number of chances Peterborough created were well into double figures and they might perhaps have rued some missed opportunity.
The second half is pretty much same again, both sides have made changes but Peterborough continue to press, you feel itāll be like buses once one goes in but it doesnāt seem to come, and Farsley are still in with a fight, but on 65 Max Booth breaks away, heās felled inside the area and gets up to dispatch the penalty, surely no way back from Farsley here.
Thereās plenty of time left, but Peterborough continue to pepper, I ask the Data guy next to me his shot count and he says āincluding the goals thereās 27 attempts for the home side against five of Farsleyā.
But whilst Peterborough are good, solid, efficient, manly, against mostly boys, Farsley have something, character, effort, technical ability, in Neil Redfearn they are well drilled to compete, and where Iāve seen plenty of young sides like this, when chips are down, fall and drop and domino to disaster, I donāt see it with these, a test of character, they probably go into each game expecting to lose, but boy that doesnāt stop them giving 110%, it's refreshing to see that they are game until the end.
The Stars
Whilst the youngsters of Farsley impress me in the form of Brook in goal, a Nottingham Forest loanee, Cole Hyde in midfield who played the second half out right, Abankwah at right back who has experience with Macclesfield and Stockport Town, Fox in attack, 22-years-old whoās scored goals down the levels and 23-year old Mampala who served his apprenticeship at Everton, you canāt help feel the Peterborough lads are a cut above them and readily accommodated for the level.
Hugh Alban-Jones is a player I like, a midfielder with guile, Jonathan Bland also impressing in the centre of the park, Max Booth lively up front whilst 19-year old left back Bayley McCann on loan from Barnsley, only played 45 minutes but he looks a really good player. William van Lier from Peterborough United on loan, another to keep tabs on.
The Verdict
Farsley will go down, they have too much youth and not enough experience to stay in the division, the fact that they are being forced to play their home games 65 miles away in Buxton doesnāt help, their few fans standing on the terraces calling for the ownerships head, can only be appreciative of their young players efforts in vain.
After the win Peterborough now sit eleventh, which is about where I would have them to finish, solid, always competitive, good at home, theyāll take points, drop points, and probably build another new stand before Iām back again.
Itās certainly a ground Iām warming to is Pims Park, bettered by the latest addition of press seats on halfway. The locals always friendly and the club is well ran, punching against some much better established and in size, this is their third season in the National League North, accomplished at the level, they wonāt be going anywhere too different soon.
The Teams
Peterborough Sports: Peter Crook, Eliot Putman, Ryan Fryatt, William van Lier (Kane Felix 80), Mark Jones (Michael Gyasi 71), Bayley McCann (Jonas Mukana 46), Hugh Alban-Jones, Jonathan Bland, Michael Gash, Ben Lomax, Max Booth (Ben Challinor 90).
Farsley Celtic: Will Brook, Isaac Abankwah, Rudy Misambo, Essa Essajennah, Harry Sheridan (Tyler Polworth 90), Manny Mampala, Cole Hyde, Dylan Youmbi (Rafael Monteiro 46), Joao Silva, Robbie Fox, Justin Iwobi (Chris Konodolo 46).
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 4th February 2025, Lincoln Road, Peterborough (att 191).
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