DEFEAT AT PETERBOROUGH

Two second half goals for the hosts proved the difference in an otherwise even game between Peterborough Sports and Needham Market.

Tom Rothery's side made 2 changes to the win over Rushall Olympic with Dan Morphew and Teddy Collis starting in place of Tommy Smith (injured) and Seth Chambers.

While Sports forced a good low diving save from Josh Blunkell to hold onto the effort in the fifth minute, Needham enjoyed the majority of the possession afterwards.

Reggie Lambe's effort curled towards goal in the wind, forcing Peter Crook to leap high to his right to turn it behind a minute later while Tevan Allen's seventh minute cross just evaded Teddy Collis in space at the far post.

Luke Ingram then fired a half-volley over from 20-yards, before a great through-ball just evaded Teddy Collis with Crook out to meet it.

At the other end, Sports created a couple of half chances, though Kyle Hammond blocked a 24th minute ferocious shot from inside the box, before Alfie Atherton's shot was blocked behind well by Jake Dye seven minutes later.

The hosts meanwhile headed a cross wide or the near post on 32 minutes, followed by heading a cross narrowly wide of the far post seven minutes later.

Alfie Atherton drew a comfortably low diving catch from Blunkell on 40 minutes as both sides went into the break level.

Teddy Collis tested Crook a minute within the restart, forcing the keeper to hold his powerful effort at head height from a tight angle.

Jake Dye also tested Crook in the 50th minute, but his audacious effort dipping under the crossbar was well claimed by the keeper.

Sam Straughan-Brown smashed a 50 yard effort just over the bar at the other end two minutes later, while Ted Collis' looping header went narrowly over from a great cross-field ball a minute later.

Needham though we're reduced to ten men on 55 minutes, Allen threaded Collis through into the box before rounding the committed Crook and going down after feeling contact. The referee however adjudged it to be a foul and showed the forward a second yellow card.

Sports took advantage, breaking the deadlock on the hour mark, feeding Kaine Felix free on the right-hand edge of the box to fire into the far corner. .

Jamie McGrath in reply threaded Allen through outside the box, whose excellent strike was swatted over by Crook on 62 minutes.

Seth Chambers replaced McGrath soon after, before Blunkell dived down smartly at his near post to beat away a low effort in the 69th minute.

Jacob Lay was introduced in place of Ingram, as the hosts doubled their lead on 79 minutes. Michael Gyasi broke through before finishing low past Blunkell.

Lambe made way for Luca Savill, with Ollie Fraser replacing Tevan Allen as the game drew to a close.

Needham switch focus to their final home league game against Kings Lynn Town on Monday (3pm).

Tom Rothery reflects on Friday's defeat.

DK: Another one of those games, really?

TR: Yeah, I've just said that to the players. It kind of sums up our season, really. Don't get too many favourable decisions. Don't carry enough threat. And, yeah, don't score enough goals. That kind of does sum us up, really.

DK: It's a game where nothing really separates the two teams, maybe other than the red card.

TR: Yeah, I think even when we went down to ten men, I still think we're in the game. But, like I've said, that's why, wherever they are, 10th or whatever in the league, they just carry a bit more threat. They play on mistakes and then take chances when they get them. And we've had more of the ball, but I just don't think we're carrying enough threat. And I think that is, sadly, the story of the season. So, like I've just said to the players, one, we've got a lot of work to do in the summer because I'm massively positive about next season. But if anyone thinks we're going to get relegated and then just be top of the league below, then it's delusional sort of talk, isn't it? We've got a lot of work to do on and off the training pitch, as in recruiting, getting the right players in and also doing a lot of work in the summer to get us fitter and being more of a threat going forward. There's no doubt about it.

DK: Yeah, it gives you time to start preparing ahead.

TR: I already knew it anyway. Games like this sort of emphasise that even more so.But I already knew that anyway. And like I said, we had this discussion two seasons ago. I hate failing and it does feel like we've failed this year. So, that makes me even more determined and I'll do everything within my power. And then you've just got to get the players to get on board with you and want the same things, which I believe I've got in that changing room. Obviously, anyone we bring in will have that same attitude as us as well.

DK: Monday, we've got Kings Lynn at home, the final chance to get some points at home?

TR: Yeah, it's really difficult. We've come away from how we want to play, really, because of the pictures and how bumpy they are. So maybe I've got to think about that as well. The last few weeks, we've come away from how we would normally play. We've picked up a result against Rushall, but we didn't pick up one today. So, I've got to think about that and think about what we do going forward for Monday. And then, obviously, Saturday away. But it is difficult. It's windy again. The pitch is really bumpy and wobbly. And it makes it very hard to play football, even though I do think we tried to do that today. But, like I said, it's finding that balance between playing and carrying a threat. And we didn't get that right today. Definitely, we didn't carry a threat.