A brace from Axten secures Posh Women spot in the next round of the league cup.
Two late goals from Rosie Axten secured Peterborough United Women a 3-2 victory over Barnsley Women’s on Sunday afternoon to progress into the next round of the FA Women’s National League Cup.
Posh carved out the first opportunity on three minutes as Megan Lawlor’s ball over the top found Ellie York and she fired an effort just wide of the far-post. Charlotte Hastings was called into action shortly after, getting a strong hand on Charlotte Stuart’s effort.
The ball was in the back of the net on 18 minutes via Evie Driscoll-King, but the assistant referee flag was up for offside. However, Posh broke the deadlock just two minutes later and it was an outstanding finish from Sophie Scargill for her first goal for the club.
The ball drops behind the hosts’ defence, Scargill raced onto the ball and her effort on the half-volley flew over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The hosts started to grow into the game, with Abi Housecroft having a few opportunities from the edge of the box.
Barnsley Women’s found the equaliser on 34 minutes as Housecroft got behind the Posh defence, Hastings’ clearance ricocheted off Housecroft and into the back of the net. Alex O’Neill struck the woodwork on 40 minutes as her curling effort from the edge of the box was tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper.
Hastings produced a fantastic save on the stroke of half-time as she tipped Jodie Mischalka’s effort around the post. The hosts started the second half stronger as Courtney Csomor raced behind the Posh defence, but she dragged her effort wide of the post.
Alex O’Neill played a lovely ball over the top to Lawlor, but her first-time effort went well wide. Csomor then had another good opportunity on 62 minutes as she was completely free inside the box, but she fired her effort over the bar. Lawlor made two changes at the break as Keir Perkins and Katie Middleton replaced Tara Kirk and Poppie Brown.
The game started to fade out in the closing stages, with Jodie Michsalka going the closest but her header was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper before her effort at the near-post forced Hastings into a low save with her feet.
Posh took the lead in injury-time as O’Neill’s ball over the top played Perkins down the right, she picked out Rosie Axten inside the box who guided her effort into the far bottom corner. However, the hosts brought the scores level once again as a free-kick into the box was dropped by Hastings and Charlotte Stuart headed home from close-range.
However, the late drama continued and deep into injury-time, Posh found the winner and it was Axten once again as her left-footed curling effort from the edge of the box creeped in at the far-post.
Posh XI: Hastings, York, Mugridge, Connor (Copson, 73min), Driscoll-King, O’Neill, Scargill, Brown (Middleton, 65min), Lawlor (Osker, 73min), Kirk (Perkins, 65min), Axten.
Subs Not Used: Corry.
Photo Credit: Darren Wiles (@Darren_wiles)