Posh Women Under 23s suffer defeat in their final pre-season game.
Peterborough United Women Under 23s were beaten 2-1 by Professional Game Academy League side Ipswich Town Under 21s on a blustery Sunday afternoon at the idverde Training Ground as Michael Allsebrook’s side concluded their pre-season schedule, with Taya Smith grabbing a late consolation goal for the Posh.
It was a strong battle from the first whistle with the Posh holding a strong Tractor Girls’ side. Tilly Sands fired a free-kick straight at the goalkeeper as Posh tested the opposition on the quarter hour mark.
Ipswich responded well with their winger advancing forward but flashed her effort into the side netting. Their forward broke free of the central defence moments later, but Megan Dellar prevented the breakthrough with a smart stop. The Tractor Girls’ broke the deadlock minutes before half time as the forward advanced on the left, cut inside before curling an effort into the top corner from a tight angle.
The opposition continued to put pressure on Posh early in the second half with Dellar tipping the ball over the crossbar following a long distance shot. Just before the hour mark, Ipswich extended their lead as the forward beat the offside trap before slotting in at the near post past Dellar. Ipswich were seeking a third minutes after as they broke free of the Posh defence, but Dellar handled well.
Posh looked to get back into the game with Kendal O’Connor playing Alice Akinyemi through on goal, she rounded the goalkeeper but dragged her effort wide. Akinyemi had a second chance to reduce the deficit just minutes later, but her first time effort was parried away by the goalkeeper.
Allsebrook’s side continued to pressurise the Tractor Girls’ and were rewarded for their efforts with less than five minutes on the clock as SMITH capitalised on a poor defensive mistake before firing into the top right corner. In stoppage time, substitute Georgie Oliver had a chance to equalise for Posh as she beat the goalkeeper to the ball but her effort was cleared off the line.
Following the game, Posh Women Under 23s manager Michael Allsebrook said: “Ipswich have been the best side we’ve played this pre-season. They’re a WSL Championship academy side who play some very good sides each week. We knew it was going to be a difficult afternoon for us. I thought we competed well against them. The goals conceded are disappointing; I felt we were unlucky as the two goals were the only time that they really opened us up. In the second half, we allowed them to get on top of us, they took their chances and in a way it's killed the game off.
“I’m proud of the girls for finishing the game off as they did. They continued to work with ball and Taya (Smith) took her goal well at the end. It’s a tough day in terms of the result but there’s plenty of positive to take.”
Posh XI: Dellar, Curson, Sands, Richards-Reeves, Meli, Mears, Podd, Moore, King, Smith, Akinyemi.
Subs Used: Oliver, Riley, O’Connor, Cooper, Iyawa.