Peterborough United Under 18s returned to league action with a 4-1 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday afternoon.
Bristol City started the afternoon positively and were met with the first opportunity inside three minutes when Zac King-Phillips drove his effort wide of the post from distance.
The former was at the heart of it minutes later when he lashed his effort over the woodwork from a similar distance to his first attempt.
The Robins’ dominance continued on 19 minutes, this time Tom Chaplin was afforded space to cross from wide, his delivery found the head of Jack Griffin who nodded over from close range.
The hosts landed the first blow in the 26th minute, Luke Skinner lashed home his effort on the rebound after a great initial stop from Ignas Sakalas.
Bristol City continued in the ascendancy when they saw another opportunity go begging, Leo Pecover was found in space inside the Posh penalty area, but his effort was well-blocked by Lucca Mendonca.
Pecover came close to rounding off a dominant first half with a second goal, but he drilled his effort wide after a neat passing move by the hosts.
The game was more stretched in the second period, with Posh showing signs of improvement in the early exchanges; Max Beech opted to strike across goal when he latched on to a pass from deep, but was kept out by the onrushing Jack Witchard.
Witchard was called into action again minutes later, Bolu Shofowoke had two opportunities to draw Posh level, but were both well-stopped by the Robins’ man in net.
Down the other end, Bristol City doubled their advantage after Reubin Sheppard saw his curling effort strike the inside of the post and into the bottom corner.
Posh saw their hope for a response dwindle when Andre Changunda was sent off for a late challenge on a Bristol City man.
The hosts capitalised on their man advantage on 87 minutes when Charlie Filer arrowed a shot into the bottom corner from point-bank.
BEECH lessened the deficit minutes later when he opened his account for the season with a strike from distance.
It didn’t take the hosts long to restore their three-goal lead, though, Sheppard doubled his tally for the afternoon when his direct free-kick floated over Sakalas and into the top corner.
Posh: Sakalas, Freeman, Gbajumo, Unwin (sub Holley, 46min), Mendonca, Gilbert (sub Aikins, 74min), Davies, Fox, Shofowoke, Beech, Changunda ©. Unused subs:, Sykut, McWilliams-Marcano.
Half-Time: Bristol City U18s 2 – 0 Peterborough United U18s
Full Time: Bristol City U18s 4 – 1 Peterborough United U18s