2011-12 Match Reports CCFC v PETERBORO

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......