Peterborough United 0-4 BFC, Saturday 6th October 2018

‘Four Four Two and Pottsy on the wing’

Welcome to...(where?)

Wow!  We certainly spanked the monkey that is Peterboro yesterday.  From start to finish, we were utterly, utterly, superb.  So much so we even let Davies get in on the act by giving away a penalty, just so’s he had a save to make.  I cannot remember the last time I have seen a Barnsley side so dominant throughout a match (never?).  All orchestrated by new signing ‘George Moncur’.  Who is this fella?  Pulled all the strings in midfield, comfortable in possession, drove forward, lots of give-and-gos…and an end product to boot.  Indeed, he had one saved within 2 minutes, and a couple of mins after Peter Burrow’s penalty, he’d put us one up, being Johnny-on-the-spot to a loose ball in the box.  

The Main Event.

The pen?  Extraordinary and predictable at the same time.  We spend the opening 12 mins camped in their half, when one clearance later they’re clean through.  I thought Davies took the lad out, but the ref waved play on and another Posh player crashes into Cavare.  I’m not sure Cavare could get out of the way, but there were few complaints. Up stepped former Reds’ loanee Ivan Toney to sidefoot it low and Davies made the save.  I was side-on to the goal; the shot looked a bit soft and possibly not well placed.  Has Davies ever saved a pen? I’m sure someone knows…

We TRY to give P'boro a head start...

Once we were in front, we never, ever, looked like giving it away.  Moore had an effort superbly save before he limped off while his sub, Jacob Brown, far from proving an inadequate replacement, showed mobility and intelligence on his own up front. (I say on his own, he always had at least 3 attacking midfielders up there with him, nevermind the cavalry…sorry, Cavare.)

Mr P. Burrow (and carrot).

Then we went two up.  A free kick on the apex of the box was touched to Potts who lashed it into the far corner.  What a strike.  Then I (nearly) saw one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen at a football match, and if it had come off we’d have been the laughing stock of the country for a week. Over-celebrating, the players ran toward the bench.  Carelessly, everyone was in our half, while Posh got the ball straight back to the centre spot.  It was Lindsay who spotted it, and he screamed at our players to get off the pitch to prevent Posh taking the kick quickly.  If he hadn’t, Posh were ready to lob Davies, who was 25 yards out of his goal.  Anyway, danger over, we went in two-nil and looking and feeling very smug indeed.  Would there be a reaction from Peterboro?  Would we miss Kiefer?

The teams are out.

No and no.  Within a couple of minutes, a sweet, sweet, move had Cavare coming in on the overlap to meet a low cross.  All he had to do was keep it down.  He didn’t keep it down.  But no worries, the attacks continued and having tried to Arsenal it in several times (over elaborating on the passing front instead of just concentrating on scoring), Moncur plays in Potts who hits it low into the bottom corner from 20 yards.  The game is now officially over and there was still over half an hour to go.  And for most of that half an hour, it felt like the Super Reds were happy to knock it around, one-touch passes, and just rub Peterboro and Steve Evans’ noses in it.  Lots of cries of ‘Olé’ and ‘It’s just like watching Brazil.’  Indeed, the 3^rd and 4^th goals were serenaded with ‘Easy!  Easy!’  It was a great, great, day.

Spoilt for choice on a free kick.

And just to cap it off, we did get the 4^th goal our dominance deserved; Brown coming in from the right to strike home into the far corner 1^sttime, a 3^rd division version of that famous Carlos Alberto goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup Final, if you will.  If we play like this every week we will p*** this division.

*** Moncur.  Ran the match. 

** Potts.  The Barnsley Paul Scholes.

* Lindsay.  Solid at the back and great awareness.

Not many of 'em left at 0-4.

Despatches:
There wasn’t anybody who had a bad game.  Cavare was up and down that wing and took no prisoners.  Pinnock made one mistake and tracked back 40 yards to win it back.  Mowatt linked up well with Moncur, while Bahre was everywhere, not giving any of their players a rest. I’m a big fan. Dougall didn’t look like he had owt to do.  I can’t remember seeing him tackle anyone, so at least he didn’t get booked this week.  And I’m happy for Ben Williams, in at left back.  He looks a better prospect than Penniless or Fryers, so let’s see if Stendal gives him a chance next week.  He did lose possession once when he was too far up field, but we were 3 up at the time and cruising.  In fact, if I have a beef, it’s recognising these players. Potts, Bahre, Williams….Thiam.  All these blonds look the same to me.  

Another fabulous turnout of Reds fans, this week filling an allocation of 1,700. Mind, Posh had a few hundred empty seats behind the goal, so I don’t quite understand why they couldn’t sell those (apparently they’d offered us more tickets, but wanted full payment, whether we sold them or not. Idiocy.)

As for our promotion credentials, I don’t know if we’re amazing, or whether P’boro played into our hands. I suspect other teams won’t give us the space Posh gave us, and certainly at Oakwell, teams will pack their defences.  But away from home, where our opposition feel they have to come out and attack, we have the chance to murder teams.  The only question is how many points we’ll get: Jonesy has a tenner on with me that we’ll get more than 85 points.  Here’s hoping!

I couldn't be much further into this stand.

Drink du jour: I love Peterborough.  After a warmer-upper in the Wetherspoons (waiting for the pub on a boat to open) we hit Charters, where I enjoyed a cloudy lager called ‘Kellerbier’ from the local Nene Valley Brewery.  Very nice.  No Jaipur this year tho. Problies for the best.

Onwards and upwards!

Away: 1,700 (sold out)

The Damage:£19 train
£26 ent
£3 prog
= £48

The Tunes:
Slowdive (Slowdive)
Big Balloon (Dutch Uncles)

Abax Stadium panorama

1st view of..err...London Road.

Some brought their flags...

I'll have a 'P' please, Bob.

..while we didn't (sellout and all; where would we put it?  Doh.

How quaint; No advertising hoardings.

Full-time.

I remember when this end had character, ie, a terrace.

The London Road terrace.

Back to Charters for a celebratory drink.

A Peterborough rooftop statue hails the Super Reds.