A hat-trick from Driscoll-King secures victory for Posh Women over local rivals.
Peterborough United Women made it three wins on the bounce in pre-season after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Cambridge United Women on Sunday afternoon at the Abbey Lawn, with Evie Driscoll-King grabbing a hat-trick.
Posh started the game strongly and carved out their first opportunity on four minutes as Katie Middleton’s low cross found Rosie Axten, but her effort was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. Megan Lawlor’s effort from distance was also comfortable for the goalkeeper.
Jess Driscoll then rose the highest to Lawlor’s free-kick, but she sent her header over the bar. Posh deservedly broke the deadlock on 26 minutes as Lawlor’s corner was flicked on at the front-post and Evie Driscoll-King was on hand at the back-post to tap it home from close-range.
The visitors first real opportunity of the first half came on 39 minutes as Sarah Wiltshire raced behind the Posh backline, cut onto her left-foot before curling an effort wide. Lucie Mugridge then produced a fantastic block to deny Wiltshire’s effort inside the box moments later.
Posh doubled their advantage just before the break and it was Driscoll-King once again, with a replica of the first goal. Lawlor’s corner was flicked on by Axten and Driscoll-King was at the back-post to squeeze her header home. Dan Lawlor’s side picked up where they left off in the second half and went close to adding a third in the opening stages as an outstanding pass from Axten set Keir Perkins through, but her left-footed effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
However, on 53 minutes, Posh were awarded a penalty after Jess Driscoll was brought down inside the box and Driscoll-King stepped up and fired home the spot-kick to seal her hat-trick. The visitors pushed for a goal back as a volley from distance was comfortably caught by Neive Corry.
Alex O’Neill grabbed the fourth goal of the afternoon and it was another superb strike from the defender. She picked the ball up on the edge of the box on the far left and her powerful right-footed effort found the back of the net via the inside of the post.
Posh struck the woodwork on 79 minutes as O’Neill found Tara Kirk inside the box, some excellent footwork saw her beat the defender before her effort struck the post, and minutes later, she sent a curling effort from the edge of the box over the bar. Wiltshire continued to cause a few problems for Posh defence in the closing stages as she saw a long-range effort well held by Corry after some good work on the edge of the box.
Posh XI: Corry, Copson (York, 46min), Mugridge (Copson, 60min), Driscoll-King (O’Neill, 62min), Evans (Kirk, 46min), Lawlor, Driscoll, Scargill, Middleton, Axten, Perkins (Dean, 62min)
Subs Not Used: Hastings, Trialist, Steward.