Posh U21s fall to defeat against The Robins.
Peterborough United U21s suffered a 4-1 defeat to Bristol City U21s in the Professional Development League on Tuesday afternoon at the idverde Training Ground, with Donay O’Brien-Brady netting his first goal since joining in the summer.
After a slow start to the game, it was the visitors who came the closest to breaking the deadlock on 16 minutes as Sam Pearson’s cross fell to Kai Churchley just inside the box and his low-driven effort skimmed wide of the post.
Posh first opportunity came on 23 minutes and it was Sam Dreyer who started the move and nearly finished it off. Dreyer collected the ball just inside his own half, played out wide to Aaron Powell and his cross found the defender inside the box, but he narrowly sent his header wide.
The Robins opened the scoring on 25 minutes as Ralph Arayoe broke quickly and advanced behind Posh’s backline, he squared the ball to Pearson and he converted from just inside the box. Marley Rose saw his effort on the volley go wide as they pushed for a second before the break.
Dreyer showed some brilliant defending just before the break as Kai Churchley managed to poke the ball past the on-rushing Ignas Sakalas, but Dreyer recovered well to clear the ball. Sakalas was called into action, getting down low to palm away Pearson’s low effort.
Posh went close to finding the equaliser on 56 minutes as James Dornelly’s lofted cross found Tyler Winters, but his acrobatic effort went just wide. The Robins doubled their lead two minutes later as Elijah Morrisson’s low-driven effort found the bottom corner.
On 61 minutes, David Kawa’s cross found O’Brien-Brady but his header was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. However, Posh pulled a goal back on 65 minutes as Powell picked out O’Brien-Brady on the edge of the box and his low-driven effort found the back of the net.
The visitors reinstated their two-goal advantage three minutes later as Callum Hutton saw his original effort saved by Sakalas, but was on hand to convert on the rebound. It became four on 72 minutes as Kai Churchley converted from the edge of the box. In the closing stages of the game, Powell sent a low-driven left-footed effort just wide of the far-post after a lovely move from Posh around the edge of the box.
U21s Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, Ryan Semple, said: “It was a really competitive game from both sides and it was certainly not lacking effort from ourselves. However, the consequences of that, it became very frantic at times and we were guilty of that in stages, especially competing in aerial duels and second balls.
“In the second half, we moved the ball better and created some good opportunities, which we scored one from. The goals from them, in particular two of them, were disappointing in terms of clearing the ball or winning the second ball. As I said though, in terms of effort and application to compete, the players certainly did that and some of the individual performances were good.”
Posh XI: Sakalas, Dornelly, Dreyer (Rose, 81min), Toynton, Powell, Chiha, Challinor (Trialist, 71min), O’Brien-Brady, Kawa, Overton, Winters (Odei-Larbi, 71min).
Subs Not Used: West, Marcon.