Peterborough United U21 vs AFC Bournemouth U21

Peterborough United Under 21s will host AFC Bournemouth Under 21s at the Weston Homes Stadium (1.30pm).

Peterborough United Under 21s face Bournemouth Under 21s on Tuesday afternoon (1.30pm) with Ryan Semple’s young side will look to get off to a positive start the league season at home in PE2.

The game is free for season ticket holders with admission set at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions for non season-ticket holders. The Kings Power Stand will be open for the fixture. Tickets will be able to be purchased at the Weston Homes Stadium Ticket Office.

THE OPPOSITION

Bournemouth Under 21s side are managed by former striker Alan Connell who, following a successful career in the EFL, is now starting his coaching career back at Bournemouth. The young Cherries side will come to the Weston Homes Stadium looking to build on their opening day win at home to Hull. Second-half strikes from Ash Clarke and Remy Rees-Dottin helped them beat Hull 2-0.

TEAM NEWS

The Under 21s side will hope to have a number of regulars back post pre-season with players who have been on the fringes of the first team being added into the mix, while manager Ryan Semple has also confirmed he has a number of players that have featured in the first team squad so far this season involved.

FROM THE MANAGER

Semple said: "I am very much looking forward to the first game of the season. It feels like it has been a long time coming. We have had friendly fixtures and with the 21s being a smaller group, we have linked with the Under 18s, but this will be our first league game.

"A lot of the Under 21s have featured in the first team squad but from a selfish point of view, I am excited to be working with the group. It is great to be playing the first game at the stadium, the pitch is in superb nick and there are a number of boys who need a game.

"As an Under 21 group, we are there to supplement the first team group with players that they need as well as develop our younger players. Last year, we went to Bournemouth around this time of year and Josh Knight was involved, who went on and had an unbelievable season, Ricky-Jade Jones was involved and he had a brilliant year too, so it just goes to show, those minutes can be really important.

"We really hope it will be a good game for us and a good game for the supporters to watch, it will be a proper test for us."

The Posh Under 21s started the new PDL campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth.

The Peterborough United Under 21s opened the new PDL season with an excellent 3-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth at the Weston Homes Stadium with Chris Conn-Clarke scoring a brace as he got 90 minutes under his belt.

On 11 minutes, the visitors had the first effort on target but Will Blackmore, making his first appearance of the month, made a smart stop with his legs. Two minutes later, David Kamara saw an effort kept out at the near post after good work from Cian Hayes.

On 18 minutes, Conn-Clarke saw a shot blocked, which led to a succession of Posh corners, that were well defended by the Cherries back-line. David Ajiboye had a great chance to break the deadlock just before the half hour mark as Harley Mills picked the winger out with a sumptious cross only for the former Sutton United man to head wide of the target.

The deadlock was broken on 40 minutes as CONN-CLARKE fired past goalkeeper McKenna from close-range after latching onto a fine through ball. Conn-Clarke was involved again five minutes later as he was fouled by Toure Williams inside the box, enabling KAMARA to double the lead with a well-taken spot-kick.

A brilliant run from Hayes saw him feed the ball out wide to Conn-Clarke who came close to adding a third at the start of the second half. The visitors responded with a flurry of chances of their own with Ash Clarke rattling the right-hand post with a powerful effort on 62 minutes.

Posh momentarily had a third goal as Kamara put the ball in the back of the net, however it was ruled out for offside. Posh went close numerous times with Conn-Clarke having his effort from distance fantastically tipped around the post by the Bournemouth keeper.

From the resulting corner, Mills' header once again forced McKenna in the opposition goal into action with him having to push the ball onto the post. Posh finally added a third in the latter stages with CONN-CLARKE adding his second as he fired past the keeper from the centre of the box to round off a fantastic display from the Under 21s side.

Following the game, Lead Professional Development Phase Lead Coach Ryan Semple said: " The performance in large parts of the game was excellent, we were at it with a very good tempo. The attitude of the older boys was fantastic right from the start.

"Defensively, we were solid as a back four and alongside Will Blackmore in goal, it was great to get a clean sheet. It’s a collective thing, we talked about our shape and how we press when we press high, being able to adapt, everybody out of possession did really well."

The Under 21s side travel down to Colchester on Friday night where they will look to continue to build on their winning start to the season.

Posh: Blackmore,, Dornelly, Mills, Campbell, Rose, Crichlow, Ajiboye, Young, Kamara (sub Davies 85min), Conn-Clarke, Hayes (sub Changunda, 85min).

Unused subs: Smith (GK), Sumnall, Fox.