Posh U18s were condemned to defeat by The Tigers on Saturday.
Peterborough United U18s suffered a 3-2 defeat to Hull City U18s on Saturday morning in the Under-18 Professional Development League, with Jamal Campbell-Ryce pleased with the improved performance despite failing to secure the three points.
Posh had the first opportunity of the game as Luke Gilbert’s cross was met by Josh Marcon and his volleyed effort forced George Wilson into a save with his feet. The hosts took the lead on 11 minutes as Ed Devine’s low cross was initially touched by Lucas Dawson before Ronnie Kelly converted from close-range.
George Holley was superbly denied by The Tigers goalkeeper, forcing Wilson into a one-handed save to tip Holley’s curling effort over, while Joe Toynton sent a header over the bar after rising highest to Holley’s corner.
In the closing stages of the first half, the hosts doubled their advantage as Harry Spence’s cross was met by Kelly to score his second of the game. However, Posh pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time, as Gilbert’s cross was headed home by Torin Ntege.
The Tigers restored their two-goal lead five minutes into the second half as a superb run from Devine saw him pick out Dawson and he fired the ball into the back of the net. They were down to 10 men on 63 minutes as a reckless challenge from Spence saw a straight red card.
Posh pushed for a way back into the game in the final 20 minutes, but failed to capitalise on chances. In injury-time, Posh cut the deficit as they were awarded a penalty and Tyler Winters stepped up to calmly convert from the spot.
Speaking on the game, Jamal Campbell-Ryce said: “There was a lot more improvements in the performance again, very similar to Millwall and West Brom earlier this month. We are starting to gel together and starting to look more like how we did last season, but we are still conceding goals far too easily. However, there were a lot of good signs throughout the 90 minutes.
“Our final message at the break was not to concede any sloppy goals and that’s exactly what we did, we just gave us a mountain to climb after that. The players will have to start taking some ownership and, for large parts of the game, they were really good and were happy collectively as a team, but their goals just came at the wrong times in the game and gave us too much to do in the end.”
Posh: West; Gilbert (Trialist, 46min), Rose, Toynton, Freeman, Unwin, Marcon (Beech, sub 83min), Holley, Kelmendi (Changunda, sub 53min (Davis, sub 70min)), Winters (C), Ntege.
Sub Not Used: Sakalas.