Three points in first league home of the season after victory over The Royals.
Peterborough United Women secured their first victory in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands campaign after a 4-2 victory over newly-promoted Sutton Coldfield Town Women on Sunday afternoon at Abbey Lawn.
The visitors broke the deadlock on eight minutes as Olivia Woolston delivered a ball across from the right-hand side and Chloe Handy was there to tap it home. Niamh Connor had a brilliant opportunity to bring the scores level on 15 minutes as Megan Lawlor’s corner fell to the feet of the defender, but she blazed her effort over the bar.
Another corner from Lawlor caused problems for the Royals defence, this time falling to Katie Middleton on the edge of the box and she sent her effort over. Posh responded well after falling behind and carved out another good opportunity on 20 minutes as Sophie Scargill played the ball through to Keir Perkins, but her shot was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Posh found the equaliser on 23 minutes as Lawlor’s corner was met by the head of Scargill and she guided her header into the bottom corner, netting her second goal in two games for the club. Five minutes later, and Tara Kirk put Posh ahead after some outstanding work from Perkins down the right-hand side before sending a low ball across the face of the goal and Kirk was there to tap home her first goal of the campaign.
Dan Lawlor’s side were awarded a penalty on 34 minutes after Middleton was fouled, but Lawlor saw her spot-kick saved before netting home on the rebound, but was disallowed after the referee whistle went. Posh started the second half strongly and thought they extended their lead on 49 minutes, but the assistant referee flag was up for offside.
Kirk then produced a fine finish into the top corner, but once again, the goal was chalked off after the forward was judged to be offside. Brittany Civil caused a concern for Posh’s backline as she raced behind before sending an effort over the bar.
Middleton was close to adding a third on 58 minutes as Perkins’ cross found the forward at the back-post and she just poked wide after being under-pressure from a defender and the goalkeeper. Posh continued to search for that all-important second goal as Perkins and Scargill both had effort just go inches wide.
Rosie Axten, who was introduced on 65 minutes, then had a free-kick superbly saved by the goalkeeper after it took a slight deflection in the wall. However, from the following corner, Posh extended their advantage as Middleton’s corner found Evie Driscoll-King at the back-post and her header into the ground found the back of the net.
The victory was sealed on 85 minutes as Middleton netted her second goal in three games. Axten found Middleton on the right, she advanced inside before sending a low-driven effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. It became slightly nervy in the closing stages though as the visitors pulled a goal back in injury-time.
Posh XI: Corry, Driscoll-King, Mugridge, Connor, Evans (York, 76min), Driscoll (Brown, 65min), Scargill (O’Neill, 76min), Lawlor (Axten, 65min) Middleton, Kirk (Bennett, 65min), Perkins.
Photo Credit: Darren Wiles.