Posh v AFC Wimbledon

Posh got their pre-season friendly programme underway in Spain on Friday evening with a competitive clash against AFC Wimbledon.

Pre-season is all about minutes and the Peterborough United squad got 45 minutes each in the tank with a competitive friendly against Sky Bet League Two side AFC Wimbledon at their training base in Spain on Friday evening.

In front of a healthy following of Posh fans, who flew out to witness the first action of the 2024-2025 pre-season campaign, Darren Ferguson's men gave almost all of the squad a chance to get some minutes under their belt with only Harrison Burrows and Pemi Aderoju not featuring against the Dons.

It was a quiet opening to the game in temperatures nudging 30 degrees, with the first opportunity falling the way of the Dons but former Posh striker Matty Stevens fired wide of the post.

Cian Hayes tricked his way into the penalty box on 17 minutes and forced a brilliant save by Dons debutant Ward in between the sticks.

Maycock fired wide of the target on 22 minutes before the Dons hit the woodwork as Bugiel's header smacked against the crossbar. Reeves curled a free-kick over the top as the first half drew to a close. 

Ferguson switched his entire XI for the second half with Johnnie Jackson's men also making wholesale changes at the break.

Pigott fired wide inside the opening 60 seconds before the Dons took the lead as Smith found the back of the net via a deflection. 

Just after the hour, a strong run from Kwame Poku saw him beat the full-back with a neat piece of skill before seeing a shot deflect over the bar.

On 69 minutes, Poku was kept out by the keeper following a low drive and moments later Joel Randall was also kept out.

On 80 minutes, Posh put together a fine move with the impressive Donay O'Brien-Brady at the heart of it, he played a nice one-two down the left and pulled the ball back to Poku, who saw his goalbound effort deflected over the top.

It was a good workout for both sides as they begun their preparatons for the new campaign, which gets underway in August.

Posh (1st half): Bilokapic, Adebisi, Fernandez, Nevett, Ajiboye, Kyprianou, De Havilland, Hayes, Conn-Clarke, Wakeling, Mothersille. 

Posh (2nd half): Steer, Dornelly, Mills, Rose, Crichlow, Collins, O'Brien-Brady, Poku, Randall, Odoh, Jones. 

Unused sub: Aderoju.