Overton on the scoresheet as Posh U21s claim victory over The Turbines in a pre-season friendly.
Peterborough United U21s secured an excellent 2-0 victory over National League North side Peterborough Sports at PIMS Park on Saturday afternoon in the third game of their pre-season schedule.
Trialist B opened the deadlock in the first half as torrential rain fell at PIMS Park before Gabriel Overton netted his second goal in two games, with the under 21s keeping their third consecutive clean sheet of pre-season.
The hosts started the game strongly as Matty Miles’ cross found Jordan Nicholson at the back-post, but he couldn’t keep his header down before Ben Fowkes dragged an effort just wide of the far post. Nicholson went close again a few minutes later as his strike found the side-netting.
However, it was Posh who broke the deadlock on 17 minutes as David Kawa advanced into the box, Lewis Elsom was out quickly to block his effort but the ball fell to Trialist B and he curled home into the bottom corner. The under 21s then had the opportunity to double their lead on 23 minutes as Posh were awarded a penalty, but Lewis Darlington’s spot-kick was saved by Elsom.
On 27 minutes, The ball fell kindly to Nicholson on the edge of the box, but the forward sent his first-time effort well over the bar before a low-driven effort from Kawa glanced past the far-post. Sports continued to threaten the equaliser as Nicholson had an effort well-blocked by Benjamin Arthur from inside the box.
Posh made a number of changes at the break and two of them linked up to double the under 21s advantage on 48 minutes. Trialist D, who replaced Trialist A, played a lovely reverse ball into the path of Overton, who replaced Darlington, and his effort found the bottom corner.
Reuben Marshall replaced Kawa just after the hour-mark before Harry Titchmarsh and Trialist E came on for Hisham Chiha and Trialist B. The hosts best chance of the second half came on 78 minutes as Dan Lawlor’s floated free-kick was met by the head of Michael Gash, but he sent his header narrowly over the bar.
Shortly after, Posh broke quickly in numbers as Marshall advanced down the right-hand side and towards the box before playing it to Overton, whose effort from inside the box was well-blocked by Miles.
Marshall should have added a third for Posh on 83 minutes as Trialist E slipped the ball into the path of the forward and he sent his effort wide. The trialist goalkeeper was called into action in the closing stages of the game as Lawlor’s low cross was converted goalwards by Sam Dreyer.
Posh XI: Trialist A, Bodnar, Thomas (Dreyer, 46min), Arthur (Fox, 46min), Powell, McGlinchey, Chiha (Titchmarsh, 66min), Trialist B (Trialist E, 66min), Trialist A (Trialist D, 46min), Darlington (Overton, 46min), Kawa (Marshall, 62min).
Photo credit: Darren Wiles (@Darren_wiles)