Posh Women ran out comfortable 8-0 winners over Long Eaton United Ladies.
Peterborough United Women returned to FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands action in style as they secured an emphatic 8-0 victory over Long Eaton United Ladies at the Abbey Lawn on Sunday afternoon, with Tara Kirk netting a hat-trick in back-to-back games.
Posh completely dominated the first 45 minutes, with midfielder Jess Evans opening the scoring after just 30 seconds as Keir Perkins’ cross found Evans at the back-post and she sent a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
Posh doubled their advantage on 10 minutes after Perkins’ cross was flicked on by Evans into the feet of Kirk and her effort towards goal deflected off the Long Eaton United defender and into the back of the net.
It became just minutes later as Rachel Lawrence’s ball looked to be going into the keeper’s hands, but Perkins’ pace saw her beat the keeper to the ball before cooly slotting the ball home.
On 14 minutes, just one minute after scoring their third, Kirk doubled her goal tally and made it four for Posh, with Lawrence providing another fantastic ball into Kirk’s feet inside the box and she tapped home from close-range with ease.
Posh’s dominance didn’t ease off, and on 19 minutes, Lawrence breezed past two Long Eaton United defenders before sending a powerful strike into the top right-hand corner. Less than ten minutes later, on 28 minutes, Evans doubled her goal tally after a corner from Jess Driscoll found her in the box, whose effort on the half-volley was deflected past the keeper.
On 33 minutes, Kirk found her third, securing a hat-trick for the second game in a row after an excellent ball over the top by Cassie Steward to set Kirk through on-goal and she cooly found the bottom corner.
Posh’s continuous threat seemed to carry over into the next 45 minutes and within the opening four minutes of the second half, it became eight via defender Niamh Connor, who rose highest from Lawrence’s corner to head home from close-range.
The visitors' first chance of the game fell on the hour mark as Yasmin Harris looked to be through on goal, but a fantastic diving fingertip save from Kira Markwell was enough to push the ball away from goal.
On 70 minutes, midfielder Stacey McConville was introduced into the game, making her first appearance for the club since August. Perkins looked to double her tally as Driscoll, who breezed past two defenders, teed up the forward inside the box, but her effort was comfortable for the keeper.
Posh XI: Markwell, Lawrence, Mugridge, Connor, Aylmer, Lawlor (Hendrick, 65min), Steward (McConville, 70min), Driscoll, Evans, Perkins, Kirk (Oliveria, 65min).
Written by Charlie Jiggins.
Photo credit: @rubyredphoto