Posh Women U23s record a 2-2 draw with Kettering Town Women on Sunday afternoon.
Peterborough United Women U23s settled for a 2-2 draw with Kettering Town Women in their second 90 minutes of pre-season on Sunday afternoon at Kettering Beccleuch Academy.
Posh began the game the more brighter and positive team, with their first sight at goal inside the opening five minutes as Ella-Mai Bale was sent through inside the box but her first touch fell in favour of the goalkeeper. The Posh were rewarded for their efforts as they broke the deadlock on nine minutes as Taya Smith collected the ball on the edge of the box, dribbled around one player before teeing off to Maddison MOORE and her first-time effort hit the back of the net via both goalposts.
The Posh Women U23s continued to pressurise the Kettering defence with Taya Smith attempting to lob the keeper from the edge of the box, but her effort was tipped over the crossbar. Rebecca Meras curled an effort on target minutes later but her shot was safely collected by the goalkeeper. On 13 minutes, Ellie Curson’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Tillie Sands fired a volley just inches wide of the post.
Kettering Town began to grow into the game and on 25 minutes tasted their first effort at goal as a well-worked throw-in was met by the centre-backs head inside the box, but her effort went well wide. The Poppies equalised on 28 minutes from another throw-in as an initial header at goal was knocked on inside the box and diverted the ball into the net, fooling Megan Dellar in goal.
Kettering’s confidence continued into the second half as they took the lead inside the opening two minutes of the restart as a goal-mouth scramble caused mayhem in the Posh box before the ball fell into the back of the net. The Posh began to grow into the game and had a good spell of possession on the hour mark. Alicia Podd demonstrated good footwork as she advanced towards the box before finding Ellie Curson, but her shot was well held by the goalkeeper. The Posh equalised on 66 minutes as Zina CHEIKH met the ball at the touchline inside the box, dribbled past a defender before firing past the goalkeeper from the tightest of angles.
The game was played from end to end after 70 minutes, with Kettering Town advancing on the counterattack and saw their forward fire an effort wide. Kacey Sharman cut inside the box moments later, but saw her shot blocked. In injury time, The Poppies broke onto the counter-attack once again, but Olivia Wheatley’s tackle prevented the striker from taking a shot. The Posh embarked on their own counter-attack straight after with Taya Smith volleying from yards out, but the Kettering keeper saved, tipping the ball onto the crossbar before being cleared away.
Manager Michael Allesbrook spoke after the game: “I felt it was a mixed performance from the players today. We didn’t work in possession as well as I know we can, we were playing the ball in areas that we didn’t need to be. We have to give credit to Kettering, they were clinical with their efforts at goal today. It’s our second 90 minutes of pre-season, so it’s another step forward and something we can look to build on. We started the game well and got the opening goal inside 10 minutes. Their goal threw us off a bit and from then on they grew into it. We were physically strong today and they played till the final minute as we saw at both ends with Olivia’s last-minute tackle before their goalkeeper pulls of a remarkable save with Taya’s shot.”
POSH XI: Dellar, King, Osker, Sands, Richards-Reeves, Podd, Curson, Meras, Moore, Bale, Smith.
Written by Lauren Shiels.
Photo credit: Darren Wiles.