Despite an early goal from Leafield Athletic, it was a positive performance from Posh Women in their final league game of the season on Sunday afternoon at Abbey Lawn as substitute Zaiga Lacite struck a volley on the edge of the box to share the points in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands fixture.
The weekend’s fixture was Posh Women’s dedicated #HerGameToo match to promote diversity, equality and inclusion in football; with the players wearing special t-shirts during their warm-ups.
Leafield took the lead early on inside the sixth minute as an initial save from Corry fell to Grace GODWIN who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. Posh responded well with Evie Driscoll-King dragging her long-range effort just wide of the post. Corry was forced into a save after Angelique Morley curled an effort towards goal. Poppie Brown drilled an effort from outside the box past Colette Bell but it ricocheted off the crossbar.
Just before the hour mark, Frankie Pim played a low ball across goal, Driscoll-King fired towards goal but Bell parried the ball away off the goal-line. Pim delivered another cross minutes later but Brett’s header was deflected wide. The resulting corner fell invitingly to Renai Bennett but her volley towards goal was well caught by Bell. Posh continued to threaten as Middleton flashed an effort wide of the post. On the stroke of half time, good build-up play from Posh saw Brett one-on-one at goal but Bell tipped her effort round the post.
Posh started the second half strongly as Brett hit the side-netting after the ball was played through the Leafield defence. Substitute Megan Lawlor’s in-swinging corner was met at the back post by Driscoll-King but her effort went over the crossbar. Brown replicated her long-range effort in the first half by hitting the opposite woodwork. Posh continued to put pressure on Leafield’s backline as a pass from Tara Kirk found Pim, who cut inside before curling an effort straight at Bell.
Kirk was played through by Perkins but her shot was deflected wide. Seanna McCann-Lloyd struck from distance but Corry met it well. Posh equalised in the 74th minute as Keir Perkins advanced down the right before sending a ball into the box, LACITE latched on with a volley which fired into the back of the net. Posh immediately searched for the lead as a chaotic attack saw attempts from Posh blocked off the line by Leafield defence.
Perkins’ cross found Pim at the back post but her effort was deflected. Lawlor’s corner found Pim at the back post but she headed inches wide of the target. Lawlor had a chance of her own shortly after as she volleyed on a loose header, but Bell did well to tip the shot around the post. Corry was forced into action with minutes to spare to deny Leafield from close range. Perkins cut inside the box in injury time, but curled her effort over the woodwork.
Posh: Corry, Connor (sub Hilliard 60min), Fletcher, Driscoll-King, Mugridge, Brown (sub Lacite 60min), Driscoll, Bennett (sub 46min, Lawlor), Middleton (sub Perkins 46min), Brett (sub Kirk 55min), Pim.
Half Time: Peterborough United 0-1 Leafield Athletic
Full Time: Peterborough United 1-1 Leafield Athletic
Attendance: 255
Referee: James Crantwell
By Lauren Shiels
- Photo credit: Darren Wiles