Winters and Marshall inspire Posh U18s to victory over The Latics on Saturday afternoon.
Peterborough United U18s concluded their Under-18 Professional Development League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at Christopher Park on Saturday afternoon after two goals in the second half from Tyler Winters and Reuben Marshall.
After a quiet start to the game, it was Harley Mills who had the best opportunity inside the opening ten minutes as the ball fell to the left-back, but his powerful effort from distance was blocked by a defender.
Josh Marcon then went on a good solo run to the edge of the box before feeding the ball across to Torin Ntege, who saw his effort saved by the goalkeeper. The hosts first chance of the game was on 18 minutes as Nse Bollado’s pull-back found Kristian Knowles, but his first-time effort was tame and straight into the hands of Jake West.
Posh continued to push to find the breakthrough in the first half as the Trialist won the ball back, advanced into the box before firing an effort to the near-post, forcing the goalkeeper to push it out for a corner. James Dornelly was inches away as he rose the highest to Mills’ corner, but his header was cleared off the line by a defender.
Both sides struggled to carve out any more opportunities before the break as Jamal Campbell-Ryce made two changes, introducing Tom Unwin and Winters at half-time. It only took two minutes for the forward to net his 19th goal of the season and the opener for Posh as Dennis Kelmendi’s low cross found Winters at the front-post, his initial effort was blocked before he fired home the rebound.
Two more changes were made on 58 minutes as Marshall and Janos Bodnar, who was making his first appearance since semi-final victory over Colchester United, replaced Kelmendi and Ntege. West was called into action on 61 minutes, tipping a curling effort from the edge of the box around the post.
Posh searched for a second as Marcon saw an effort on the half-volley go well over the bar before Winters rushed a shot after Marshall’s flicked header set the forward through on-goal. However, Campbell-Ryce’s men sealed the victory on 87 minutes as Mills sent a brilliant cross into the box and Marshall was there to head home his 24th goal of the season.
Speaking on the game, Campbell-Ryce said: “I thought we were totally dominant throughout the game, had plenty of opportunities but just needed to be that more clinical. Another clean sheet, another three points to finish off the season, I’m just so proud of the players and hopefully we can take that into Tuesday’s game and make it six wins in a row.
“They have been outstanding since the turn of the year. Everything that myself, Hugh [Alban-Jones], Ryan [Semple] or any of the other coaching staff have asked of them, they have always done at 100%. So, it’s no surprise the ability they have shown over the last couple of months, the workrate, togetherness, they have just been absolutely brilliant.”
Posh XI: West, Dornelly, Rose (Arthur, 65min), Toynton, Mills, Challinor (Unwin, 46min), Titchmarsh, Marcon, Kelmendi (Bodnar, 56min), Trialist (Winters, 46min), Ntege (Marshall, 56min).