14.2.2012
CCFC 3 v 1 PETERBORO
On the back of two consecutive
defeats, with our challenge for a top two slot in danger of disintegrating and
with a full set of fixtures tonight, the pre-match talk was unusually negative,
reflecting the very real prospect of finishing the day outside the play-offs if
other results went against us. The consensus was that nothing less than a
convincing and comfortable victory over one of the league’s whipping boys would
do.
The first 30 minutes provided no
grounds for optimism as we produced an inept, disjointed, unconvincing,
lack-lustre display which strongly hinted that the players were distracted by
the prospect of playing on a bigger stage in the not too distant future. The
work ethic so evident this season was sadly lacking and on more than one
occasion there was the suggestion from certain players that they were not
prepared to sacrifice the biggest day of their careers by over-committing
themselves against less stellar opposition.
This disturbing lack of
engagement, allied with a change of formation which saw Gestede partnering
Miller upfront ahead of a midfield containing new boy Vuckic (who was clearly
struggling to adapt) failed to inspire a subdued crowd as anxiety took hold.
Then out of the blue things suddenly and decisively took a turn for the better.
And not for the first time, it was that man Whittingham who made the
difference.
A trademark swinging Whitts
corner struck a body blow to Posh as their keeper Joe Lewis aimed a mistimed
left hook and turned to see the ball hit the back of the net. Before there was
time to say ‘Seconds out round two’ Posh were floored with another sucker punch
from our other cornerman, Cowie who whipped one in as Lewis was again beaten to
the punch, this time by rampaging Rudy who grabbed his chance like a real
contender, rising above the Posh plodders to find the top corner. 2-0. Two
minutes later the Posh palookas were caught cold again as on loan Vuckic struck
a low blow inside the box. 3-0 and Posh were now really on the ropes. Pound for
pound this was the worst defensive display seen at CCS and Fergie Jnr. looked
ready to throw in the towel.
There was still time in this
first half game of two halves for a moment of comedy gold as the crowd exhorted
Vuckic the Slovenian Geordie to ‘do the Ayatollah’. Hardly surprising that the
request was lost in translation, but to the tune of Bread of Heaven the Canton
boys chanted ‘Someone tell him what to do, someone tell him what to do’. After
taking instruction from the bench, and clearly bemused, he duly obliged.
So 3-0 up at half time and game
over surely? Well recent history suggests that for this fixture the fabled Fat
Lady doesn’t start flexing her tonsils until well past the allotted 90 minutes.
We lost at their place 4-3 last October after going 3-2 up with three minutes
left on the clock. And of course worse than that was the December 2009 game
when Posh clawed back a 0-4 half time deficit to force a draw in the dying
seconds.
Any lingering doubts about the
outcome of this one were laid to rest as the Bluebirds produced an assured and
dominant second half display. It seemed only a matter of time before our goal
difference tally received a welcome boost but despite a couple of Whittingham
pile-drivers, a speculative 30 yarder from Gestede (who also blasted over with
the goal at his mercy) and a couple of one-on-ones, their revitalised keeper
kept us at bay after his first half horror show. A five or six goal margin
would have more fairly reflected our dominance and it was rough justice, but hardly
without precedent, to concede an injury time goal.
A mixed bag of results elsewhere
saw us move up to third, just 3 points off second. Looked at another way, this
league is so competitive that 3 points dropped would have seen us heading a
chasing pack outside the zone. Next up in form Ipswich away, followed by our
annual visit to the UK’s second best stadium to face dem dere Scousers, ok calm
down, calm down......
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