Pelicans Men’s 1st 5, City Of Peterborough 2nd 3
For the fourth game in a row, Pelicans scored five goals, making it four wins in a row, and remaining unbeaten in their first six games and top of division 1N as the season takes a one-week break.
This victory was made all the more impressive because of the opposition, Peterborough, who were relegated last season and had started very well and were also unbeaten and looking for a quick return to the league above.
However, they were outplayed for pretty much the entirety of the 70 minutes. Pelicans rushed into a 2-0 lead early on, firstly Jack Major finishing off a lovely move at the back post after good work down the left from Chris Page and Ian Simmons.
Their second goal was down to an excellent break from captain Sam Phillips who took on all comers in Peterborough red from the halfway line, remained calm and squared it to Harry Samson who did have to dive full length to finish but did so brilliantly.
Peterborough got themselves back into the game from a short corner but this didn’t deter Pelicans who within minutes had restored their two-goal cushion. More fabulous work from Phillips saw him find space for himself after good work from Phoenix Sherry, he unleashed a reverse stick shot which was tapped home at the back post by Matt Southby for his first of the season.
That was how it stayed until half time. If Peterborough thought they were going to get back into the game they were sadly mistaken. Despite putting serious pressure on the Pelicans’ goal at times in the second half it was the visitors who were going to be flying home with the points.
Major scored a second with a rush finish after good work from Toby Phillips. A consolation goal from the penalty spot made the score 4-2 and this seemed to give the home side some belief but everything they threw at Pelicans was denied by Matt Bower in-between the sticks and defenders Sam Major, Iain Page and Chris Page.
In front of them they were protected brilliantly by Sherry and man of the match Kirwin Christoffels who covered every piece of the pitch both defensively and offensively, showing to everyone why he’s one of the best in the league.
Pelicans scored a brilliant fifth soon after when Christoffels had a shot blocked, it fell to Major who struck a volley on the reverse which beat the keeper at his near post, making it another hat trick for him and a 10th goal in just four games.
Another consolation came the way of the home side to make it 5-3 but even then, chances fell the way of Miles Doncaster, Simons and Ollie Booth and if they’d been converted Peterborough could have had few complaints.
There’s no game this week, instead Pelicans are back in action on November 4 with a home fixture against Ipswich 2nd at 2pm.
Pelicans Ladies 1st 0, Cambridge South 2nd 1
In a gruelling game played in the torrential rain, this end-to-end encounter saw the first half end goalless, with both teams unable to turn any penalties into goals.
An unfortunate tip in from Cambridge saw them go 1-0 up late in the second half. Pelicans worked Cambridge well, keeping possession. However, they were unable to convert any chances before the full-time whistle.
