Fine week for Posh youngsters as they secure back to back victories.
The Peterborough United under 18s have enjoyed a profitable few days with back to back victories and ten goals scored as Leyton Orient and Southend United were both brushed aside in emphatic fashion.
Striker Oli Shackleton has netted four times with a brace of goals in both games while 16-year-old Flynn Clarke found the back of the net twice against the Shrimpers.
It was Youth Alliance cup action for Posh last Tuesday with Orient the opposition and goals from Shackleton (2), Bradley Rolt (2) and Luke Strachan secured a 5-2 victory at the Mick George Training Academy.
Manager Matthew Etherington was pleased with the clinical display against the O’s. “It was a good win. We have been working on our attacking play tirelessly for the past few weeks and we were very clinical against Leyton Orient. It was good to see score us five goals and it could have easily been more.
“Bradley Rolt scored a really good fifth goal and it is pleasing to see the confidence that those goals impacted on the lads. I think we still have work to do on the mental side of the game, when things aren’t going your way, you have to stay in games and be more resilient and dig in. However, the important thing is that we are making good progress and that game gave us plenty of confidence going into the game with Southend.”
On Saturday, it was a trip to Essex and despite a frustrating first half, the Posh youngsters came out of the blocks in the second period and blew the Shrimpers away. Shackleton (2), Clarke (2) and an own goal secured the win. Assistant manager Sam Darlow explained:
“We started slowly in the game to be fair, Southend had one or two opportunities in front of goal in the first 20 minutes, but we stayed in the game and our goalkeeper Will Blackmore made a few really good saves. We rode a spell and that was important because staying in games when things aren’t going your well is crucial.
“We scored just before half-time through Oli Shackleton and then unfortunately conceded an equaliser before the break. In the second half we blew Southend away. We got to 5-1 very quickly and we had further chances after that to add to the scoreline. It was really pleasing to see us score so many goals. It sets us up nicely for a game with Cambridge on Saturday.”