Dennis Kelmendi and Tyler Winters both netted a brace as Posh U18s progressed into the next round of the David Joyce Cup.
Peterborough United U18s progressed into the next round of the David Joyce Cup after an emphatic 8-0 victory over Wellingborough Whitworths U18 Black at The Victoria Mill Ground on Monday evening, with a mixture of U18s and U16s involved in the squad for Posh.
After an even opening 10 minutes, it was the hosts who caused the biggest problem of the game as a miscommunication between Jake West and Fabian Claxton saw the ball loose inside the Posh box, but the latter managed to clear the ball before Wellingborough could take advantage.
On 13 minutes, Tyler Winter found acres of space down the right-hand side to advance before trying to find the trialist at the back-post with a low cross, but a slight deflection took it away from the Posh man. West was called into action minutes later, standing strong to palm away an effort after the Wellingborough forward found himself one-on-one with West.
Posh broke the deadlock on 22 minutes as Harley Mills advanced towards the byline and put in a whipping cross with his left foot, which found Winters at the back-post to head home. Claxton came close to a second on 34 minutes after a fantastic charge from the halfway line into the hosts' box, but failed to show composure and sent his effort over the bar.
It became two on 39 minutes as a diagonal ball over the top from Mills found Dennis Kelmendi, who took the ball down beautifully before slotting the ball past the keeper. Posh extended their advantage minutes later, with Kelmendi doubling his tally as he poked the ball around the on-rushing keeper and slotted home into the empty net.
A short break didn’t hamper Posh dominance as they added a fifth inside five minutes of the second half, with Winters on-hand to convert Thomas Unwin’s low cross from six yards out. Levi Baker grabbed the fifth goal of the game as he fired home from close-range after Mills’ effort from the edge of the box was deflected into the path of the midfielder.
Posh were awarded a penalty on 75 minutes after Winters was brought down inside the box, but the forward got into an altercation with the Wellingborough defender and saw two yellow cards in quick succession and was sent off before the spot-kick was even taken. The Trialist stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong to extend Posh’s advantage.
Reuben Marshall and Ben Challinor were both introduced on 78 minutes, and the latter grabbed the seventh goal of the evening as a lovely weighted ball spotted Challinor advancing into the box, lifting the ball over the diving keeper. Marshall secured the eighth in injury time, firing low into the bottom corner after a low cross found the forward in acres of space inside the box.
Speaking after the game, Ryan Semple said: “It was a professional display, I think the opening stages of the first-half was tough and the opposition did very well to limit our chances, but once we scored, it settled everyone down. We moved the ball quite well and created a lot of opportunities, all the goals were taken very well and the game ended up very comfortable.
“The good thing about this tournament and the way we use it as a club, it’s a great integration for our under 16s. There was five or six involved tonight, which is a great experience for all of them to play against older players and the benefits of playing with under 18s. So, there were loads of positives and a good night all round.”
Posh XI: West, Claxton, Mills, Marcon, Uefa (Gilbert, 61min), Toynton, Kelmendi (Challinor, 78min), Unwin, Winters, Baker (Marshall, 78min), Trialist.
Subs Not Used: Kirby, Dornelly.