Peterborough United Under 21s make in three wins from four in the 2024/25 new PDL campaign following a thriller in South Yorkshire on a wet Tuesday afternoon.

A chaotic game at the Barnsley Training Complex on Tuesday afternoon ended with Posh beating Barnsley Under 21s 4-3 thanks to a last-gasp penalty kick from Harley Mills.

Posh were sharp straight out of the blocks with Joe DAVIES firing his side ahead in the opening minute of the game, slotting it home past Barnsley keeper Adam Hayton. That lead was short lived however as the home side levelled the score after five minutes with Josiah Dyer receiving the ball in the area and firing home past Nick Bilokapic for the leveller. 

Posh came close to retaking the lead just minutes later with Joel Randall's effort from distance testing the keeper but it was well saved by Hayton. On eleven minutes, some excellent play from Andre Changunda saw him wriggle into the box but his effort was deflected wide of the mark. 

After the first quarter of an hour, Barnsley began to press ahead and try to take the lead, they went close on the 15-minute mark as Kelechi Nwakali's powerful effort from range flew just over the crossbar. Shortly after it was that man Nwakali, again going close as his free kick smashed off the underside of the bar before fortunately bounced away, eventually being cleared by the defence. Posh responded with a chance of their own as Mills well struck an effort from 25 yards out towards goal but the attempt at goal was saved by Hayton for Barnsley.

This spell in the game was Barnsley’s best of the match with pressure continuing as Yoganathan created himself a good chance to give his side the lead but his effort from the centre of the box sails past Bilokapic's left hand post. An excellent save from Posh stopper Bilokapic diving down to his right denied the home side from taking the lead after 34 minutes. 

Posh survived the onslaught and it was DAVIES again who got his second of the afternoon. Ma’Kel Campbell superbly won the ball in the middle of the park to trigger a clinical counter attack feeding the ball to Ryan De Havilland who squared the ball to Davies who fired home to restore the advantage before the break.

Like the first half it was a quick start to the second but this time it was Barnsley, who were awarded a penalty as Yoganathan was downed in the box. However, Bilokapic was the hero as diving down to his right made did brilliantly saving the spot kick pushing the effort over the bar. This was the catalyst for Posh to push on and shortly after it was three, as after yet more brilliant work from Davies, his ball across box found MILLS who fired the ball past Hayton with a thunderous volley. 

The hosts searched for a way back into the game as Vimal Yoganathan’s curling effort went close, just going wide of the target.  Barnsley had the opportunity to reduce the arrears as Kelechi Nwakali was fouled in the eighteen-yard box giving the home side their second penalty of the match. However, again the opportunity was squandered as Theo Chapman fired wide from the spot. This didn’t deter the Reds as they did manage to get a goal back just a minute later as Nwakali, who had been found the ball inside the area, smashed the ball past Bilokapic in the Posh goal.

Posh went in search of a response and came close as Randall curled the ball just wide of the post and going inches away to restoring the two-goal advantage. 

Barnsley began to push for an equaliser and Posh had defender Mills to thank as he tremendously blocked Bland, which only stopped the ball temporarily with the rebound getting stuck in the mud before it was eventually cleared away from danger by the Posh defence. 

Just as Posh had thought they were about to get across the line, Connor Barratt fired in a late equaliser as he fired past Bilokapic to equalise. This wasn’t the final action of the game however as even later into time added on substitute Edward Fox was brought down by keeper Hayton and Posh were awarded the chance to win the game with the final kick of the ball. MILLS sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to clinch all three points.

Following the game Lead Professional Development Phase Lead Coach Ryan Semple said: “It was a frantic, frantic game. Obviously for us with the goal early it was a really good start with a well taken finish from Joe Davies and obviously the ending was great too winning it late on with Harley’s penalty.

“In between that at times our playing with the ball was really good playing through our shape with Ma’Kel, Joel and Ryan in the middle. I thought we created numerous good opportunities, but I didn’t think we had enough control and part of that is not taking these chances even though we scored four goals.

“Barnsley had loads of energy, they really test you with some long balls, but they are able to mix it up as well with a number of midfield runners which we struggled to deal with at times which causes the game to end up very frantic. However, in the second half at times when they were in the ascendancy, we dug in, we defended crosses really well, and Nick made a number of excellent saves.”

The Under 21s are next in action back at the idverde Training Ground next Wednesday October 8th as they host Burnley in the PDL.

Posh: Bilokapic, Freeman, Sumnall, Rose, Mills, Bogle-Campbell (sub Fox 82min), De Havilland, Randall, Davies, Changunda (sub Marcano-Williams 60min), Trialist A (sub Gbajumo 70min). 

Unused subs: Westcott, Gbajumo.