Posh Women beaten by Loughborough Lightning on Sunday afternoon.
Three goals inside the opening ten minutes of the second half condemned Peterborough United Women to a 4-2 defeat at Loughborough University Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the FA Women’s National League.
The hosts had an early opportunity as Poppy Wright took aim from distance, but she sent her effort wide of the target. However, it was Posh who broke the deadlock on eight minutes as Jess Driscoll collected the ball on the edge of the box, she showed composure to slide the ball into Kirk and she fired her effort past the goalkeeper.
Posh doubled their advantage on 18 minutes as Katie Middleton played the ball to the right-hand side to find Ellie York and she sent a first-time cross into the box, which floated over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Lightning looked for a quick response, but Ferne Powell sent her header narrowly wide after rising highest to an in-swinging free-kick.
Powell continued to threaten as she raced behind the Posh backline, but some excellent recovery from Evie Driscoll-King saw her produce a last-ditch tackle to deny her. Dan Lawlor was forced into an early change on the half an hour mark as Megan Lawlor was replaced by Poppie Brown.
Middleton struck the woodwork on 37 minutes as Sophie Scargill won the ball back in midfield, played in our number seven and her left-footed effort hit the crossbar. At the other end, the hosts also hit the woodwork as Lydia Hilbury-Henry’s curling effort bounced off the crossbar and went over.
The hosts searched for a way back into the game on the stroke of the half-time as Zynia Delgyln was in acres of space at the back-post, but could only tap her effort wide. Lightning were quick out of the blocks after the break and were awarded a penalty after York was adjudged to pull down her player, Ferne Powell stepped up and slotted home from the spot.
Matters got worse for Posh within a matter of minutes as the hosts brought the scores level, Delgyln’s effort struck the crossbar before bouncing over the line. Lightning took the lead on 55 minutes as a quickly taken free-kick saw Powell advance to the by-line, her cut back was met by Poppy Wright and she fired home from 12-yards out.
Posh looked for an instant reply but Middleton’s curling effort was deflected just wide of the far-post after Scargill played the forward through. Corry was called into action on 68 minutes, making an improvised save to deny Hilbury-Henry’s shot from close-range.
Lightning extended their advantage on 78 minutes and it was a lovely move from the hosts, which was eventually slotted home by Lauren Purchase. Corry produced another good save on 82 minutes, getting a strong hand Powell’s effort from the edge of the box.
With time running out, Posh pushed for a way back into the game with Lucie Mugridge going the closet, but her effort from distance was pushed around the post by the goalkeeper as Lightning secured the three points on the afternoon.
Posh XI: Corry, York, Mugridge, Connor, Driscoll-King (Bennett, 85min), Lawlor (Brown, 30min), Driscoll, Scargill (Evans, 59min), Perkins (Lacite, 75min), Kirk (Axten, 64min), Middleton.