Basford United beaten in FA Trophy at Peteborough Sports

Ryan Wilson and Kane Richards had given the visitors the lead at half-time either side of Dion Sembie-Ferris’ strike before Mark Jones levelled with a header midway through the second half.

Jordan Nicholson then completed the turn-around only three minutes later as Richards was dismissed late on with a rash tackle to compound a miserable afternoon in Cambridgeshire for United.

‘Second half we weren’t great,’ manager Steve Chettle said. ‘First half we probably edged it a little bit and the score reflected that but, in the end, there wasn’t enough quality or aggression in the middle or in the top third of the pitch and we completely lacked that today.

‘Saying that we’ve won our last eight on the bounce and we’re happy with that, even if we are disappointed after this loss. We have to react now, start all over again and remain positive by trying to keep our standards as high as we can.’

Chettle’s men looked on course to continue their fine recent run after only two minutes when Wilson’s high free kick was misjudged by ‘keeper Lewis Moat who spilled into his net.

However, the early concession only spurred the hosts who looked bright and, moments after James Clifton’s effort dipped wide of the target, a mazy from Semie-Ferris down the right provided half a yard to fire through a crowd of players and under Kieron Preston.

In a tightly contested first period, arguably just edged by Basford, Sembie-Ferris forced Preston into a smart save on the half hour and Dom Roma’s low cross evaded everyone just minutes later on the tiresome and boggy surface at the Bee Arena.

But with the half dwindling into a cagey affair, with very few chances to note, Richards, fairly quiet throughout, found space on the edge of the area after good work by Marcus Marshall and deftly finished past Moat who appeared unsighted for a regain of the lead.

Joshua Moreman had a strike blocked by the ever-committed Stef Galinski early in the second period before referee Greg Rollason waved away two viable penalty shouts for Sports who began to raise their game.

Further attempts by Johnny Herd, from a deep-left position, and Sembie-Ferris did little to worry Preston, but Lewis Hilliard’s corner for the impressive Jones 17 minutes from time was perfect for the towering frontman who looped a header into the far corner for a deserved leveller.

And things got even better for the Southern Premier Division (Central) side only three minutes later when substitute Jordan Nicholson, replacing Moreman moments earlier, was allowed to benefit from the parting Basford midfield to calmly pass around Preston for the eventual winner.

With time ticking and a handful of late substitutes, United’s quest to force a shoot-out became more difficult when Richards, incensed at being denied a penalty under an innocuous challenge from Richard Jones, lunged into Brad McGowan giving Rollason little choice to send the striker for an early bath leaving Basford to ponder.

‘We’re all disappointed that we’ve gone out the Trophy today,’ Chettle added. ‘We could have gone to the fourth round for the first time in the Club’s history, but we haven’t and that’s what hurts.

‘We have to learn from what has happened and we all have to learn about our roles within the team and we continue to maintain those standards that we want to strive toward as a football club and how far we want to get – I will keep repeating that.

‘The lads have been fantastic week after week, especially after coming back (from lockdown),’ he rounded off. ‘But we take nothing away from Peterborough Sports who were fantastic. They looked lively, they had some really attacking players with some good flair and looked dangerous from set-plays and that’s what lead to our defeat.

‘‘We’ve got a good group here, but we have to move on from the loss. We will await the news of league fixtures and what happens after Christmas and plan accordingly for that. There are some boys in our ranks who are tired, and we will look after them between now and then.

‘It’ll be nice to return, but it’ll be hard. Our game against Mickleover on Monday will be a nice appetiser for the rest of the season should we continue, and we hope for a positive result.’

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS: Lewis Moat, Matty Miles, Johnny Herd, Brad McGowen, Richard Jones (c), Dan Lawlor, Dion Sembie-Ferris, Lewis Hilliard (Josh McCammon 77’), Mark Jones, Abduramane Sano Sani (Paul Malone 82’), Joshua Moreman (Jordan Nicholson 67’)

SUBS (not used): Dan Jarvis, Mitchell Griffiths, Pierre Omembe Epoyo, Lewis Elsom

BASFORD UNITED: Kieran Preston, Dom Roma (Alex Howes 83’), Ryan Wilson, Declan Dunn (Lewis Carr 66’), Stef Galinski (c), James Clifton, Callum Chettle, Marcus Marshall, Kane Richards, Rev James (Kyle Dixon 80’)

SUBS (not used): Owen Betts, Charlie Gatter, Niall Towle, Jordan Pierrepont (GK)

CAUTIONS: Dunn (foul 41’)

DISMISSALS: Richards (serious foul play 89’)

MATCH ATTENDANCE: Behind-closed-doors