Joel Randall and David Ajiboye on the scoresheet as Posh U21s secure a 4-1 victory over The Clarets on Tuesday afternoon.
Four goals, four different goalscorers for Peterborough United U21s on Tuesday afternoon as Matthew Etherington’s side breezed to a 4-1 victory at the idverde Training Ground in their final Professional Development League fixture of the calendar year.
Posh created the first opportunity of the game inside the opening five minutes as James Dornelly’s cross from the right-hand side was met by David Ajiboye, but he sent his header over the bar. The deadlock was broken on 16 minutes as Kellan Hickinson fed the ball down the left-hand side to Joel Randall, who advanced to the byline and cut inside before sending a curling effort into the back-post.
Defender Ashton Fox went close to doubling Posh advantage as he volleyed over Ajiboye’s low cross. The Clarets threaten on 31 minutes as Michael Mellon beat Will Lakin to the ball inside the box, but his effort was cleared off the line by Dornelly before Aaron Powell blocked his second attempt from close-range.
Joe Taylor dragged a shot from the edge of the box wide of the post in the closing stages of the second half. However, Taylor found the back of the net on 52 minutes and it was a beauty of a goal, as the ball fell kindly to the forward just inside the box and he curled a left-footed effort into the top left corner.
Matthew Etherington made his first change on 55 minutes as Lewis Darlington replaced Kellan Hickinson. Posh extended their advantage on 72 minutes as Randall’s pass was flicked on by Taylor to the feet of Ajiboye, who advanced into the box before slotting the ball past the keeper.
The Clarets pulled one goal back on 80 minutes as Mellon was played in by Jack Turner, he rounded Will Lakin and found the back of the net from distance. However, Posh reinstated their three-goal advantage just four minutes later, and it was an outstanding team goal, one-touch out of the back to beat the visitors’ press before Taylor advanced towards goal, teeing up Kyprianou to fire home.
Darlington’s header was caught by Lewis Thomas before Lakin was forced into action late in the second half, diving low to tip Ne-Jai Tucker’s deflected effort around the post.
Speaking after the game, Etherington said: "Burnley are a very good side, they moved the ball really well and was a good test for us. All the goals we scored were outstanding and they came from us building in our own defensive third, in particular the third and fourth goals. So, there's plenty to be pleased about, especially with the weather during the match, and played exactly how we wanted to in spells.
"We had a second-year scholar at right-back, two first-year pros at centre-half, so to only conceded one goal against a really good team, albeit the goal conceded was poor. I thought we looked secured defensively and that's something we have been working on for the last week, so that was pleasing to see."
Posh XI: Lakin, Dornelly (Arthur, 77min), Fox, Thomas, Powell (McCann, 77min), B. Thompson (Titchmarsh, 77min), Kyprianou, Hickinson (Darlington, 55min), Ajiboye, Taylor, Randall.
Sub Not Used: Laycock.