Peterborough United Under-21s completed their pre-season preparations with a defeat to Newmarket Town.
Posh Under-21s fell to defeat in Newmarket, with the Isthmian North Division side proving a difficult test in their final pre-season friendly.
Ryan Semple named a similar side to one that featured in the Under-18s’ triumph over Huntingdon United on Sunday.
There was a different feel to Sunday, though, both teams started the evening brightly and there was a good intensity on display in the opening exchanges.
The first opportunity of the evening fell to the hosts on 10 minutes and they took full advantage with the Newmarket front man capitalising on a defensive mistake to find the breakthrough.
Trialist A made a smart save to deny an effort from distance, before the hosts saw two separate efforts cannon off the woodwork minutes later.
Semple’s side soon settled and fashioned an opportunity on 24 minutes courtesy of David Kamara, who drove infield before lashing an effort wide from the left.
Down the other end, Trialist A was called into action after the hosts beat the high defensive line, before a driven effort was saved by the man in net.
Posh’s best opportunity of the first half came on 38 minutes when Max Beech had an effort tipped over the bar from a well taken, whipped free-kick.
KAMARA restored parity on 56 minutes with a well-taken strike drilled into the bottom corner, but Newmarket responded quickly; Davon Gbajumo was dispossessed deep into the final third before a blue shirt curled an effort past Trialist A from distance.
On 62 minutes, the hosts increased their advantage after the Newmarket man fired home from point-black from a pinpoint cross from the left. The hosts executed a quick-fire fourth a minute later, this time a defensive mix-up allowed the front man a simple finish into the bottom corner.
Newmarket continued their second-period rout on 70 minutes. A well-worked pattern of play allowed for a simple headed finish after a precise delivery from the touchline.
The hosts added a sixth on 82 minutes, a direct free-kick taken from distance took the keeper by surprise and found the back of the net to complete the scoring.
Posh Under-21s will face AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday 20th August (13:30pm), to kickstart their 2024-25 campaign.
Posh: Trialist A, Freeman, Gbajumo (sub Fitzpatrick, 65min), Unwin (sub Holley, 46min), Mendonca, Gilbert (sub Aikins, 65min), Fitzpatrick (sub Trialist B, 46min (sub Davies, 75min), Fox, Kamara ©, Beech (sub Sykut, 65min), Changunda.
Half-Time: Newmarket 1-0 Peterborough United Under 21s
Full-Time: Newmarket 6-1 Peterborough United Under 21s