Peterborough United Under 21s were held to a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday Under 21s on Wednesday afternoon, despite taking a two-goal lead into the break following an impressive first-half display.
The Posh made a bright start and broke the deadlock in the eighth minute through DORNELLY, who showed excellent composure to lift the ball over the goalkeeper amid a goalmouth scramble.
The hosts continued to apply pressure in search of a second goal, with McWilliams-Marcano delivering a teasing cross into the box in the 16th minute, but no Posh player was able to get on the end of it.
Two minutes later, Jones picked out Abbey on the counter-attack, who drove towards the edge of the penalty area before being denied by a well-timed challenge from a Wednesday defender.
The Posh came close again in the 22nd minute when Weir delivered an inviting early cross into the box, but Jones' towering header drifted narrowly wide. McWilliams-Marcano continued to cause problems down the right flank, making a surging run before sending another cross into the area, although there was no one on hand to convert.
The hosts' attacking efforts were rewarded in the 37th minute as ABBEY doubled the advantage. Sykut produced an excellent run down the left, beating his defender before delivering a low cross into the box, where Abbey showed great determination to slide in and find the back of the net.
The Posh almost added a third just three minutes later when Dornelly attempted a spectacular overhead kick following a set-piece, but his effort crashed against the woodwork. The hosts went into the interval with a deserved 2-0 lead after creating several promising opportunities throughout the opening 45 minutes.
However, Sheffield Wednesday responded after the restart and pulled a goal back in the 51st minute to reduce the deficit. The visitors threatened again in the 58th minute, but goalkeeper Andeng Ndi produced an outstanding reflex save to deny a close-range effort and preserve the Posh's narrow advantage.
The Posh looked to restore their two-goal cushion in the 68th minute when Sykut won possession with a well-timed challenge before trying his luck from distance, but his effort was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper. Wednesday continued to push forward and found an equaliser in the 72nd minute to bring the scores level at 2-2.
Despite surrendering their earlier advantage, the Posh continued to search for a winning goal and came agonisingly close in the 83rd minute. Freeman rose to meet a cross from a set-piece, but his header struck the woodwork.
Neither side could find a decisive goal in the closing stages, with the points shared following a 2-2 draw. Although the Posh were unable to hold on to their first-half lead, they demonstrated their attacking quality throughout the contest and continued to create opportunities in their pursuit of a winner.
Posh: Andeng Ndi, Dornelly, Weir (sub Harrah Jones 61 min), Christoudias, Freeman, Hughes (sub Claxton 31 min), Sykut, Fox, Abbey (sub Simmons 46 min), Harrison Jones, McWilliams-Marcano. Unused Sub: Smith, Dagne, Joseph, Arber.