A first-half header from Hayley James and a brace from Tara Kirk secured Peterborough United Women a 3-2 victory over Sutton Coldfield Town on Sunday afternoon at a sunny Dominos Arena in their latest FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands fixture.
It was a strong start from Posh forcing an early corner inside the opening minute of the game as Keir Perkins delivered a low cross to the front post which was cleared by the Royal's defenders. Jake Poole’s side made the corner count as Meg Lawlor’s in-swinging set-piece was headed in by JAMES towards the top left corner on 3 minutes to take an early lead.
The hosts responded quickly and carved their first chance of the game on 6 minutes as a quick free-kick was sent out wide; the forward drove the ball across the face of goal but no one could connect on the end of it.
Posh doubled their lead on 13 minutes as a throw-in from Posh was met by KIRK as she turned her defender before firing past Neve Jones into the bottom corner. Posh continued to threatened and netted a third minutes later as a well-worked team goal saw Perkins meet a ball on the right before finding KIRK at the front post who slotted in from close range.
Just before the half hour mark, the hosts clawed back the scoreline as Corry spilled a low cross into the box towards Anna RENKEN who tapped into the net from close range. Posh continued to created chances to regain their three goal cushion with James and Perkins striking from distance before half-time.
Posh continued their momentum into the second half as Katie Middleton’s cross was headed in by Niamh Reynolds, however the referee awarded a free-kick for a foul in the build-up on goalkeeper Jones.
Renai Bennett and Poppie Brown forced Jones into action once again with fine efforts from the edge of the box before the hour mark. Poole made a flurry of changes on 64 minutes as Brown, Bennett and Middleton made way for Rebecca Mears, Emily Meli and Edyn Osker.
Meli and Mears were instantly involved in the action with the latter turning her defender before striking from distance, but her effort was straight into the direction of Jones. On 69 minutes, Perkins struck powerfully from just inside the box and forced Jones into a fingertip save.
Posh made another change on 78 minutes as Ella Bale was introduced in place of Reynolds. Corry was forced into action on 83 minutes as Eva Cassidy’s effort curled towards the top right corner.
The hosts reduced the deficit deep into stoppage time as Liv OWEN headed in from a corner but Posh held on in the final minutes to secure three points on the road.
Peterborough United Women are in Northamptonshire County Cup action next weekend as they travel to Wellingborough Town Ladies with a place in the final at stake.
Posh: Corry, James, Sharpe, Driscoll-King, Lawlor, Brown (sub 64min, Osker), Bennett (sub 64min, Mears), Reynolds (sub Bale, 78min), Perkins, Kirk, Middleton (sub Meli, 78min).
Unused Sub: Connor.
Half-Time: Sutton Coldfield Town 1-3 Peterborough United Women
Full-Time: Sutton Coldfield Town 2-3 Peterborough United Women
Photo Credit: Keira Thurston