Posh Women beaten by local rivals Northampton Town.

On their return to Abbey Lawn, Jake Poole’s side fell to a second successive league defeat as they lost 2-0 against Northampton Town on a wet Sunday afternoon in their latest FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands fixture.

It was a strong start from Posh, carving out the first chance of the game inside the second minute, as Meg Lawlor’s free-kick was misjudged by Katie McLean but fell the wrong side of the post.

The Cobbler’s created their opening effort of the game just five minutes later as Kim Farrow advanced through the middle but Neive Corry got a hand to divert it from the strikers’ path before Niamh Connor cleared the danger.

Poppie Brown saw her free-kick rise inches over the crossbar before Paige Ridley fired wide from a corner. Brown fed Katie Middleton through but her effort was kept out by McLean and the near post.

Corry was cautioned as she bought down Fay Noble inside the box, but she erased her mistake by parrying the subsequent penalty kick away. On the stroke of half time, Tara Kirk received the ball in the centre, she struck from the edge of the box but saw her effort curl inches wide of the post. Hayley James was cautioned for a late foul in the final action of the first half. 

Posh made a rapid start to the second half as James met Middleton’s cross at the far post but could only direct her header at McLean. The ball fell kindly to Evie Driscoll-King minutes later but her close-range strike was tipped round the post by McLean. Jade Bell advanced through on goal but dragged her effort wide of the target.

The Cobblers’ opened the scoring on 53 minutes as BELL advanced onto a loose ball before slotting past Corry. Posh had the chance to equalise minutes later as Kayleigh Hines’ saw her free-kick clip the crossbar. James continued to experience space on the right as she squared the ball to Kirk but her effort was cleared off the line by McLean.

With 15 minutes to go, Northampton caused havoc from a corner before the ball was eventually claimed by Corry. The visitors looked set to double their lead but Corry tipped the ball off the line before Posh cleared the danger. BELL extended the Cobblers’ lead minutes later as she netted underneath Corry.

Posh looked for a way back in to the game late on as Niamh Reynolds long-range effort rose above the crossbar before Driscoll-King was cautioned for a foul in stoppage time. Posh Women are in Adobe Women’s FA Cup action next weekend as they travel to Northern Premier Division side Rugby Borough in the second round.

Posh: Corry, Driscoll-King, Sharpe (sub Bale 82min), Connor, Osker (sub 71min, Abrantes), Lawlor (sub Bennett 82min), Brown (sub Hines 54min), Reynolds, Kirk, Middleton (sub Meli 84min), James.

Half Time: Peterborough United Women 0-0 Northampton Town Women
Full Time: Peterborough United Women 0-2 Northampton Town Women
Attendance: 249