Kai Corbett and Roddy McGlinchey were among the goalscorers as Posh U21s beat Birmingham City.
Peterborough United U21s made it three games unbeaten in the Professional Development League after a late own-goal secured the victory for Matthew Etherington’s side over Birmingham City U21s at the idverde Training Ground on Tuesday afternoon.
Posh carved out the first opportunity of the game on nine minutes, with some lovely football between Oscar Tonge and Kai Corbett down the left-hand side and the latter advanced into the box, fed it back to Kellan Hickinson, whose heavy allowed the defender to come across and clear.
The Blues threaten on 13 minutes as Menzi Maki’s cross was met by Bryon Pendleton at the back-post, but his effort on the volley was sent wide of the far post. Posh broke the deadlock on 15 minutes and it was a composed finish by Corbett, sending a side-footed effort into the bottom corner after great work by Roddy McGlinchey to tee up the forward.
It was two goals in two minutes for Posh as Tonge found McGlinchey and the midfielder, from around 25 yards out, sent a powerful right-footed effort past the keeper and into the back of the net. The visitors pulled a goal back on 21 minutes as Maki advanced the down the left-hand side and into the box before firing the ball into the back of the net.
The Blues brought the game level on 28 minutes as Brandon Khela’s curling effort from the edge of the box was parried by Will Lakin, but Kieran Wakefield was on hand to convert the rebound. Lewis Darlington was inches away from handing Posh the lead once again, but Corbett’s low ball across the face of goal was too far in front of Darlington.
Lakin was called into action in the early stages of the second half, tipping Maki’s curling effort from the edge of the box over the bar. Andrew Oluwabori advanced down the middle, evading challenges before sliding in Hickinson, but the keeper was out quickly to get his foot on the ball.
Posh made their first change of the afternoon on 63 minutes as Will Van Lier replaced Harry Titchmarsh. Luke Harris was then introduced on 71 minutes for Posh second change, replacing Darlington.
Posh retook the lead on 80 minutes as Hickinson showed determination to win the ball back near the corner, advanced into the box before trying to pick out Corbett, which saw the ball ricochet off a number of players, eventually ending up in the back of the net via a Blues’ defender. The visitors threatened in the closing stages to find the equaliser as Remi Walker’s low-drilled effort from the edge of the box went wide of the post.
Posh XI: Lakin, Bodnar, Fox (Dornelly, 78min), Lamb, Tonge, Titchmarsh (Van Lier, 63min), McGlinchey, Hickinson, Oluwabori, Darlington (Harris, 71min), Corbett.
Subs Not Used: Laycock, Marshall.