Posh Women Under 23s secured their first league win of the season in style with a big win over Barnsley.
The Peterborough United Women Under 23s picked up their first three points of the season in emphatic style as Michael Allsebrook's side eased to a thumping 12-0 win over Barnsley Women Development with Frankie Pim marking her return to action with four goals.
Posh carved out the first chance of the game inside the opening minute as Mears raced through on goal but saw her effort clear the crossbar. The hosts continued on the front foot as Emily Meli forced Ella Parkin into a save before clipping the woodwork minutes later.
Allsebrook’s side eventually broke the deadlock in the ninth minute as a well-worked throw-in found ABRANTES in space on the left, she took a touch before firing into the back of the net. Less than 10 minutes later, Abrantes turned provider as she delivered a ball over the Barnsley defence to MELI who calmly slotted into the back of the net.
Posh added a third in the 23rd minute as Alice Akinyemi did well to recover the ball on the by-line before delivering a cross to Abrantes, she played the ball across to CURSON who fired into the top right corner. After the half hour mark, Posh extended their lead as a cross from Mears was knocked on by Akinyemi towards PIM who beat her marker before converting into the roof of the net.
Just four minutes later, CURSON netted her second of the game as she curled her free-kick into the top left corner. On the stroke of half time, Posh scored their sixth as a cross from MEARS went over Parkin and into the far corner.
It was Barnsley who had the first chance after the break as Holly McClaire advanced through on goal but she dragged her effort wide of Dellar’s goal. MELI capitalised on a defensive error to slot in from a tight angle for her second of the game and Posh made it eight as Faith Iyawa played out from the back to Akinyemi, she turned her defender and played PIM through on goal who fired past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
PIM claimed her hat-trick after the hour mark after good work from Abrantes and minutes later, PIM celebrated her fourth goal as Melissa Riley advanced forward before squaring to the striker who curled her shot into the top right corner.
Posh hit their 11th goal in the final ten minutes as PODD curled a free-kick into the bottom right corner before OLIVER finished the scoring with a fine strike.
Michael Allsebrook spoke after the game: “We asked them before the game to go about it in the right manner and give the right application, and to be fair to them, they’ve done that and were outstanding from start to finish, every single player. It felt like a real squad effort today. Barnsley gave us a game – it can be difficult in this league – but we could see as the game went on they were getting tired. We had that happen to us in previous games.
“We know Frankie (Pim) and Emily (Meli) well – they’ve shown what they can do today, and the rest of the team contributed immensely as well. The clean sheet doesn’t happen without everybody being involved and doing their job. The defence have had it tough recently but today we really earned it. We only gave them scraps to attack with, and Megan (Dellar) didn’t have much to do which says a lot given how busy she has been recently. We need to use this game and start to become more consistent. We’ve been getting better week by week but hopefully today’s win is the start of something. We’ve got a tough test at home next weekend but we need to continue the positive performance today.”
Posh: Dellar, Richards-Reeves, Podd, Iyawa, Abrantes, Riley, Curson, Mears, Akinyemi, Pim, Meli.
Subs Used: Cooper, T.Smith, Sands, Oliver, Gee.
- Photo Credit: Darren Wiles.