Posh Under 18s claimed victory on their return to league action as second-half goals from Joe Davies and Noah Freeman ensured Barnsley returned home empty-handed.
The Peterborough United Under 18s recorded an impressive 2-0 victory over Barnsley at the idverde Training Ground with second half goals from Joe Davies and Noah Freeman securing all three points.
Posh set up the first opportunity of an afternoon littered with action, with Lucca Mendonca having an effort cleared on the line after a whipped delivery by George Holley.
The visitors responded with an opportunity of their own which saw Arley Kay unable to head home from a similar area.
Bolu Shofowoke was at the end of a free-flowing move on 18 minutes after the front man was slipped in by Andre Changunda, only to lose his footing when faced with goal.
Robson Woodcock let fly from distance two minutes later, forcing Ben Westcott to meet the ball equally with his first stop of the afternoon. Chrysolite Ogbu set the scene for a whirlwind afternoon of cards after delaying the restart – with seven more to follow.
Kieran Graham was felled on the edge of the penalty area on half-hour, with Noah Town firing the following set-piece wide of the mark.
Patryk Sykut was next to set his sights on goal when his effort from 25-yards landed well wide. Woodcock flashed a ball across the face of goal not long after, where Ogbu angled an effort wide.
McWilliams-Marcano continued to cause chaos down the left-side after his introduction, skipping past a number of red shirts before testing Owen Grainger who did well to repel the effort.
McWilliams-Marcano’s pressure would be rewarded with a quarter of an hour to play after the winger was felled inside the visitors penalty area after a superb run. DAVIES made no mistake from the following spot-kick when he picked out the bottom corner with ease to give the youngsters a deserved lead.
FREEMAN was on hand to double the lead shortly after when the full-back rose highest to meet Davies’ delivery, completing an excellent afternoon.
Posh: Westcott, Gbajumo, Claxton, Mendonca, Freeman, Fox (sub Unwin 46min), Holley, Changunda (sub McWilliams-Marcano 46min), Sykut (sub Fitzpatrick 46min), Davies, Shofowoke. Unused sub: Gilbert.
Half-Time: Posh Under 18s 0-0 Barnsley Under 18s
Full-Time: Posh Under 18s 2-0 Barnsley Under 18s