Posh Women Development Squad Survive Nervy Finish to Record Successive Victories
Peterborough United Women Development Squad recorded back-to-back wins in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Division One South after a 1-0 victory over Roade Ladies FC.
It was Posh who carved the first chance of the game on seven minute as Aliyah Palmer was played through on the right, her cross found Alice Macnicol in the centre whose loose touch fell to Hannah Murphy, however, her shot at goal was scuffed wide of the post.
On 20 minutes, Posh deservedly took the lead as Kacey Sharman was fed through and her low-driven shot was parried away by the goalkeeper, but only to Aliyah PALMER, who tapped home at the far post. The hosts almost replied instantly as their midfielder dribbled through the Posh backline, but her attempt was safely collected by Danni King.
Posh had the chance to double the lead on 37 minutes as a looping pass was latched onto by Andreia Oliveira, she drove towards goal and found Lauren King to her left, but her scuffed shot was calmly gathered by the goalkeeper.
It was Roade FC who came out of the starting blocks the quickest in the second. On 63 minutes, Sharman found space down the right flank once more, but her shot was driven wide of the post. Minutes later, Oliveira was played through on goal by Murphy but failed to test the hosts' goalkeeper.
In the closing stages, Roade FC looked for an equaliser as the pressure continued to mount on the Posh backline. On 86 minutes, D. King was forced to save a volley fired at goal from 30 yards out. King was required into action again in the final minute of the game, pulling off a heroic finger-tip save to push a driven shot around the post. The consequent corner led to further panic in the box as King pushed the ball onto the crossbar before Hannah Johnson headed the ball off the line and back onto the crossbar, eventually cleared by the Posh defence.
Manager Shaun Harley said after the game, “I thought we were absolutely outstanding from start to finish. The girls applied everything that we spoke about, even with a few players missing today. They executed the plan perfectly. The only criticism I have is we should have won by more than one goal, but the main thing is we got the win and I’m delighted about that.”
POSH XI: D. King, Richard-Reeves, Johnson, Barnes, Hendrick, Sharman, Murphy, Podd, Palmer, Macnicol, Oliveira.
Subs: L. King, Wheatley, Harley, Rider.
By Lauren Shiels.