Posh U21s suffer defeat to The Cherries in the Professional Development League.
Peterborough United U21s were condemned to a 1-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth in the Professional Development League on Tuesday afternoon, with The Cherries’ late spot-kick sealing the three points for them.
The hosts had their first opportunity on 11 minutes as a free-kick on the edge of the box was sent over the bar, failing to trouble Fynn Talley. Posh were close to breaking the deadlock on 13 minutes as Kai Corbett’s corner was flicked on at the near-post and was met by Josh Knight at the back-post, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
The Cherries struck the woodwork on 18 minutes as a curling effort from the edge of the box hit the top of the crossbar. Joe Tomlinson had an effort from distance that forced the hosts goalkeeper into a low save as Posh searched for the breakthrough in the first half.
Ricky-Jade Jones had an early opportunity in the second half as the ball fell to him inside the left area of the box, but his curling effort was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. A few minutes later, he tested The Cherries number one once again as he advanced into the box and looked to place his shot into the far corner from a tight angle, but the goalkeeper got a strong hand on his effort to push it over the bar.
Talley was called into action on 56 minutes to tip a looping header around the post. Posh had two big opportunities ahead of the hour mark as Kabongo Tshimanga’s header from close-range was well saved by the goalkeeper before a low-driven effort Corbett just inside the box was pushed around the post.
On 70 minutes, the hosts broke quickly following a Posh corner as their forward was picked out inside the box and his effort was tipped over the bar by Talley. A deep corner from Harley Mills found Knight at the back-post, but his header found the side-netting.
The hosts were awarded a penalty on 78 minutes as Tomlinson was penalised for bringing down their forward and Daniel Adu-Adjei stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to put The Cherries ahead.
Speaking on the game, U21s Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Ryan Semple said: “It was disappointing to concede the penalty late on in the match after we gave the ball away and they quickly got forward. However, in large parts of the game, we sort of controlled the game and had numerous opportunities in behind them and had plenty of crosses into the box and forced their goalkeeper into some fantastic saves.
“It was just one of those games where the ball just didn’t fall for us, which can be down to good defending from them or us not having the right quality to finish off the opportunities. At this moment in time, we are getting some good bits in one performance and then good things in different games, so we just need to put it together and then it will be a good collective performance, but we need to do that as soon as possible.”
Posh XI: Talley, Tomlinson, Knight, Arthur, Mills, De Havilland, O’Connell, Corbett, O'Brien-Brady, Jones, Tshimanga.
Subs: West, Thomas, Titchmarsh, Challinor, Kawa.
Photo credit: AFC Bournemouth