The Turbines` remarkable progress in the non-League game, obviously halted rather by the pandemic and lack of league action, has seen them progress through four rounds to reach this stage as they embark on a trip across to Twerton park to take on Vanarama National League South side Bath City.
Sadly, the game will be behind closed doors, as Sports` Third Round tie was.
However, their fans were able to watch them beat Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Gainsborough Trinity at the Bee Arena on October 31st.
It was a convincing win with Josh Moreman opening the scoring for Sports after just 3 minutes.
Paul Malone doubled the home side`s lead with a brilliant goal on 16 minutes with Jimmy Dean`s side dominating the play throughout the first half.
Trinity pulled a goal back through skipper Simon Ainge after a mix up in the Sports defence and Gainsborough found themselves level on 55 minutes through AJ Greaves.
However, Maniche Sani soon cancelled this out at the other end on 57 minutes by putting Sports back ahead and Johnny Herd sealed the victory with Sports’ fourth goal on 66 minutes.
After the mini lockdown, December 8th finally saw Sports play their First Round tie at Hayden Road against league rivals AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
And if their win over Gainsborough was convincing, their 5-1 hammering of Andy Peaks` side was devastating.
On a cold and wet Tuesday evening, Sports dominated the play from the very beginning, and it didn’t take too long for the Turbines to take the lead, with Maniche Sani bundling the ball home from close range on 11 minutes.
Just after the half-hour mark, Sports found themselves two in front through Dion Sembie-Ferris.
As the playing conditions worsened, it seemed that Sports were holding their own and dominating the game both offensively and defensively. Towards the end of the first half, Sani got his second of the game and Sports third to put the away side into the driving seat at half-time.
After a pitch inspection from the referee at the break, it took less than 5 minutes after the restart for Sports to get a fourth, Sani rounding the keeper to slot home his second of the game.
However, less than 2 minutes later, the home side managed to pull a goal back through Alex Collard.
Sports managed a fifth goal through sub Jordan Nicholson, and now looked forward to yet another difficult trip to fellow Southern Premier Central side Hitchin Town in the Second Round.
At Top Field just a few days later, Sports went ahead slightly against the run of play with a fine goal from Lewis Hilliard from a narrow angle after 10 minutes.
Despite being a goal down, the home side were still looking dangerous and were continuing to press. This worked in Sports’ favour as they doubled their lead right on the stroke of half-time through another breakaway goal from Dion Sembie-Ferris.
Hitchin were desperately searching for a way back into the game and if it wasn’t for Lewis Moat in the Sports goal, the Canaries would have easily been back in the game.
Sports’ third goal of the game came through yet another sweeping move which was well-finished by Sembie-Ferris.
The game was put to the bed through a fourth goal, this time sub Dan Jarvis got in the act with a somewhat fortunate finish off his shoulder.
December 19th saw Sports welcome another Northern Premier League Premier Division team in high flying Basford United.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest games in Peterborough Sports` short bu amazing history had to be played behind closed doors at the Bee Arena due to Peterborough being placed in Tier 3 just two days before the game.
Sports showed great desire to secure a win after they went into the half-time break trailing 2-1.
The hosts got off to the worst possible start when a free-kick evaded everyone and deceived goalkeeper Lewis Moult, gifting Basford the lead in just the 2nd minute.
The Turbines responded really well and were level midway through the half, thanks to another goal from Dion Sembie-Ferris.
It was the visitors who once again nicked the lead just before the break, Kane Richards making it 2-1 on 42 minutes.
The equaliser was scored by Mark Jones, who headed home to make it 2-2 on 73 minutes and, just 3 minutes later, the game was turned on its head when Jordan Nicholson fired home to put Sports 3-2 ahead.
Basford pressed for an equaliser, but Sports held firm and the visitors` hopes diminished when they were reduced to ten-men when they had a man sent-off for a two-footed tackle on Brad McGowan.
So, tomorrow sees the Peterborough Sports story continue as they head to Bath to take on a City side who are struggling in fourth-bottom spot in the National League South.
However, they have scored 7 goals in beating league rivals Chelmsford City and Southern Premier Division South side Swindon Supermarine in their previous two Trophy ties.
I am sure Turbines` boss Jimmy Dean won`t underestimate Bath and his biggest worry is the lack of training and match practice for his players, who haven`t had a game since the Basford victory.
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