Driscoll celebrated a century of appearances in style as Posh Women advanced in The Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
Peterborough United Women booked their place in the First Round Proper of The Vitality Women’s FA Cup after a 3-1 victory over Mansfield Town Ladies at the Abbey Lawn on Sunday afternoon, with Jess Driscoll netting a goal and an assist on her 100th appearance for the club.
The first chance of the game fell to Posh inside the opening two minutes as Keir Perkins played a clever ball into Zaiga Lacite inside the box, but her effort was straight at Vanessa Kinnerley. Defender Kayleigh Aylmer took aim from distance, which the visitors’ goalkeeper easily gathered.
After a slow start, Posh began to grow into the game as Lacite’s cross from the right-hand side found Evie Driscoll-King inside the box, but she guided her header wide of the post. Mansfield Town’s first chance fell on 33 minutes as Devon Cousins looping effort dropped on top of the Posh net.
The deadlock was broken on 35 minutes and it was a lovely team goal from Posh, starting with Lucie Mugridge advancing from the back before playing a ball over the top to Perkins, she pulled it back to Driscoll inside the box to slot home on her 100th appearance.
Mansfield Town made a positive start to the second half as Ellie Marshall’s effort from the edge of the box went wide of the post. Dan Lawlor made his first change of the afternoon on 60 minutes as Zaiga Lacite was replaced by Megan Lawlor, who made an instant impact as she fizzed a low cross into the box, which was sent over by Perkins.
Posh doubled their advantage on 74 minutes as Perkins’ cross found Kirk at the back-post, who took the ball down beautifully before forcing the ball home at the near post. It became three just three minutes later as Driscoll’s cross was met on the volley by Cassie Steward and her effort crept in at the back-post, despite Kinnerly getting a strong hand on the ball.
Mansfield Town cut the deficit down on 82 minutes as Ellie Marshall got behind the Posh backline and slotted the ball past Neive Corry. The visitors searched for a possible comeback into the game, but Georgia Gladwin blazed an effort over the bar after being fed the ball on the left of the box.
Posh XI: Corry, Aylmer, Copson, Mugridge, Driscoll-King, Evans (Horner, 68mins), Driscoll, Steward, Lacite (Lawlor, 60mins), Kirk (Bailey, 79mins), Perkins.
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Hendrick.
Image Credit: Lucy Tibbs (@lucytibbsphoto)