Peterborough United Under 21s were defeated on Tuesday afternoon at the idverde Training Ground as visitors Burnley took all three points back to Lancashire.
Posh Under 21s were beaten 5-2 on Tuesday afternoon as Burnley came from behind to claim a fourth win of the season. An early goal from Posh frontman David Kamara along with a late consolation goal from Harley Mills were highlights of a tough afternoon for Ryan Semple’s side.
Posh started the game strongly and had the first major chance of the afternoon early on as David Kamara was played through on goal however he was denied by a fine stop by Clarets keeper Jon Villar Robinson.
The pressure continued and on nine minutes Harley Mills did well to beat his man and fire the ball across the box, but Pemi Aderoju saw his effort scrambled away by a resolute Burnley defence.
However, KAMARA gave Posh the lead as he slid the ball past the goalkeeper after being played through on goal. Following the goal, Posh continued to create chances with Jenson Sumnall glancing a header wide of the post. Minutes later again Posh looked to double their advantage as a strong run from Aderoju ended with his shot from distance flying way over the crossbar.
The missed chances were piling up and led Posh to eventually rue them as on 28 minutes Tom Tweedy sent the ball past Blackmore and into the bottom corner to level the game at 1-1. Burnley soon took the lead three minutes later as Joe Westley scored with an unbelievable effort direct from a free kick.
Soon Burnley went close to adding a third before the break as forward Westley found himself through on goal, but his effort was saved well by Posh keeper Blackmore.
Posh searched for an equaliser as the second half began and were unlucky on fifty-two minutes as Harley Mills lofted the ball into the box and his ball was met by an Aderoju header but it was blocked by the opposing defender. Soon after, the Clarets went close to a third as Vernon Masara went on a dazzling run which saw him beat two men before his effort was comfortably gathered by Will Blackmore. Ten minutes later, Posh went close on a number of occasions during a scramble in the box following a Harley Mills corner but eventually the ball was cleared much to the visible delight of the Burnley defenders. This allowed the visitors to quickly break and on the counter, Burnley made it three with a calm finish from winger Joe Bevan.
Posh pulled a goal back through the in-form Harley MILLS who fired home from the edge of the area. However, this brief resurgence didn’t last long as Burnley hit back and a free header at the back post gave the visitors a fourth as the ball was nodded into the back of the net by Ben Ward. Two minutes later the Clarets put the game beyond doubt as Karmani Ryan put his name on the scoresheet.
Following the game Professional Development Phase Lead Coach Ryan Semple assessed his sides performance saying: “We started the game well, I thought we started the game with great energy and it should have been more than on for sure. Then the game really changes when they scored their first goal as we don’t manage the game well when we were down to ten men as Eddie was getting treatment and shortly after they take the lead with a really well taken free kick but we are messing around with the ball too much on the edge of the box and things like that will get punished at the end of the day.”
“I thought we started the second half not bad but then concede another really poor goal and it’s 3-1. We get ourselves back into the game, 3-2 but then we concede again and it’s those key moments in the game which we didn’t manage well enough and which Burnley did and that’s what’s separated the sides."
The Under 21s are next in action next Monday October 14th as they visit Crewe Alexandra in the PDL.
Posh: Blackmore, Freeman, Mills (sub Gbajumo, 79 mins), Mendonca (sub Davies, 75 mins), Sumnall, Rose, Young (sub Skyut, 66 mins), Bogle-Campbell, Kamara (sub McWilliams-Marcano, 83 mins); Fox, Aderoju.