Chasetown became the latest opposition to inflict a single goal defeat on Sports, although they nearly squandered a three goal lead, leaving the hosts on a run that has not yielded any points in the last six league games.
Turbines boss Jimmy Dean was forced into making one change to the starting line up from last weeks game away to Belper Town, Dan Bannister replacing the suspended Josh Moreman.
Chasetown dominated the early exchanges although it was Sports that should have taken the lead. Avelino Vieira was put through by Lewis Hilliard to be one on one with goalkeeper Curtis Pond, but the visiting stopper spread himself well to deny the home striker. As the half reached the midpoint the deadlock was broken by Jacob Lovatt.
Latching on to a long through ball Lovatt shrugged off the attentions of his marker. He saw his first effort saved by Dan George but reacted quickest and while George tried to position himself smashed the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal.
As the half wore on the visitors were still dominating possession, but that didn’t stop Pond being forced into diving saves to thwart long range shots from Lewis Webb and Hilliard.
Sports had final chance to equalise just before the interval but Liam Marshall’s curling free kick lacked the power and direction to trouble Pond.
The second half started with the home side more on the front foot, the best effort during the early part of the half came from Webb but he saw his shot blocked.
Sports were just getting a foothold in the game when the football gods conspired against them. Dan Cocks cut inside from his station on the left wing, what happened next caused some debate. Dan Lawlor looked to have made contact with the Chasetown man outside the penalty area but in the opinion of the referee, Scott Tellis, the contact was inside and he awarded the penalty. Chasetown skipper Jack Langston cooly converted the spot kick to double his team’s lead.
Spots went in search of the goal that would get them back in the game and were caught out by a sucker punch. A clearance was flicked on near the halfway line and that flick on took Lovatt clear of the the last man, he had little trouble slotting the ball past George for his second and his side’s third.
Sports finally got some reward for their second half play when Mark Jones pulled a goal back on 72 minutes, Hilliard’s drive was beaten away by Pond but only as far as Jones who despatched the ball into the unguarded goal only to see the assistant raise his flag. There is no doubt that Vieira was in an offside position but after consultation with his assistant Mr Tallis ruled that Vieira was not interfering with play and awarded the goal.
Vieira then set up a grandstand finish when with three minutes left on the clock the Chasetown defence allowed a long throw, from Ashley Robinson, to bounce in the box and stood still while Vieira smashed a right foot volley past Pond.
With the Turbines on the cusp of an unlikely draw they threw everything at the visitors in search of an equaliser. Hilliard thought he had completed the comeback only to see his shot strike the post and deep into added time Vieira could not believe his goal bound shot was blocked on the line.
That just left Chasetown to run down the clock and condemn Sports to a sixth straight league defeat.
Peterborough Sports – Dan George, Olly Medwynter, Liam Marshall, Josh Sanders (Ashley Robinson 65), Sam Hill, Lewis Webb, Lewis Hilliard, Dan Lawlor, Avelino Vieira, Mark Jones, Dan Bannister (Josh McCammon)
Subs not used – Daniel Buccierro, James Connell
Goals Jones 72, Vieira 87
Chasetown – Curtis Pond, Christopher Baker, Michael O’Reilly, Thomas Urwin, James O’Neill, James O’Reilly, Jacob Lovatt (George Cater 77), Jack Langston, Muzy NDuna (Ryan Wynter 58)’ William Whieldon, Dan Cocks ( NKosi MZungwana 82)
Subs not used – Jordan Flattley, Oli Hayward
Goals – Lovatt 22, 65, Langston 54 (P)
Yellow Cards – Chasetown 2 (NDuna, MZungwana)
Referee – Scott Tallis
Asisstants – William Ottaway, Richard Cutts
Att – 115
Emma Catherine (Sports Journalist) 