PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0 CITY 1
FA Cup 5th Round
14th February 1981
Attendance 27,780
Scorers Booth(42)
Ref R Lewis
City Corrigan, Henry, Booth, McDonald, Reid, Bennett, Power, Gow, MacKenzie, Hutchison, Reeves – sub Tueart(unused)
Peterborough Waugh, McVay, Phillips, Gynn, Slack, Slough, Quow, Kellock, Cooke, Hodgson, Robson – sub Syrett(63)
TOMMY BOOTH SCORES THE WINNING GOAL
FROM THE PRESS BOX
A REPORT FROM THE GUARDIAN 16TH FEBRUARY 1981
The Bull and Dragon. the nearest watering hole to Peterborough’s London Road ground, was overflowing an hour before the kick off. Excited Fenland voices extolled the virtues of their Fourth Division team and cast dark doubts on City’s ability to rebuff United‘s surge to Wembley. Twinkle-eyed, they flooded over the limpid waters of the River Nene and settled themselves in for a rare treat.
vibrant with the anticipation of success.
For 40 minutes the Cambridge Levels quivered. Peterborough, poised and determined, had Manchester City rattled. Kellock’s chipped passes reguarly and unerringly found space behind City’s deenders, worming doubt and fraying nerves. Robson, formerly of Chelsea and Newcastle, shook off his years to skip joyously past McDonald, while Kellock flashed a fierce header a fraction the wrong side of Corrigan’s left-hand post.
All the chances fell Peterborough‘s way. None of them as easy but they came regularly enough to provoke genuine belief in an upset. Even Tommy Booth’s goal in the 42nd minute failed to quench the home supporters’ fire and at half-time the animated talk was at worst. of a replay. “Lucky buggers,” was the trenchant comment of one eldlerly supporter as City ran out after the interval.
But it was not to be. There was a steely resolve to Manchester City’s second-half display which crushed Peterborough’s spirit. Kellock’s delightful touch faded to a memory while Robson was increasingly isolated as United’s other midfield players were thrown on the defensive. Much as expected of Cooke. whose goal-scoring record has attracted the First Division scouts, but he was never able to throw off his marker and remained disappointingly mute.
The industry of Hutchison, Power and Bennett and the commitment of Booth, McDonald. and Gow ensured City a place in the quarter-finals. John Bond. their manager, who was not at the game because of influenza would have been pleased with the discipline of the performance even though City were well short of their best.
