Posh Women wrapped up pre-season with a victory over local rivals.
Peterborough United Women concluded their pre-season schedule with a 3-1 victory over local rivals Cambridge United Women on Sunday afternoon in the sweltering heat at the idverde Training Ground.
It was the visitors who created the best opportunity on six minutes as their number nine headed just wide after a teasing delivery from a corner. Keir Perkins showed real pace down the right-hand side to beat her defender before cutting it back to Jess Evans, but her effort was straight down the throat of The U’s keeper.
After the first water break of the afternoon, Posh should have broken the deadlock on 22 minutes as Cassie Steward fizzed a low ball across goal, which found Jess Driscoll at the back-post but the midfielder failed to get a clean connection and her effort came bouncing back of the post.
However, at the other end of the pitch, the ball was in the back of the net on 25 minutes as Sarah Wiltshire was fouled inside the box, with the referee pointing to the spot and Cesca Partridge calmly converted to hand The U's the lead. Posh got themselves back level ten minutes later as Driscoll made no mistake on this occasion to slot home from close-range after great work by Perkins to pick out the midfielder inside the box.
Posh got their noses in front on the stroke of half time, and it was Cassie Steward once again in pre-season as she showed composure to take the ball down on her chest before firing home on the half-volley from the edge of the box, which sneaked just underneath the crossbar.
Assistant Manager Dave Copson and First Team Coach Ammar Qadeer, who have both stepped in Dan Lawlor's absence, made two changes at the break, although it was The U’s who went close to bringing the scores level as a deflected effort was put beyond Kira Markwell, but Lucie Mugridge was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Posh extended their advantage on 63 minutes as an inswinging corner from Kayleigh Aylmer went over the keeper and sneaked in at the back-post. The defender nearly repeated that in the closing stages of the game, but this time it bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Driscoll went in search of her second of the game as the ball fell kindly to her inside the box, but The U’s keeper got down quickly to her near-post to keep out Driscoll’s powerful effort. Markwell, who was completing her first 90 minutes of pre-season, was called in action on 86 minutes, diving to her left to deny a header from a corner.
Posh XI: Markwell, Katie Steward, Copson, Mugridge, Connor, Aylmer, Horner, Evans, Driscoll, Cassie Steward, Perkins.
Subs: Corry, Driscoll-King, Hendrick, McConville, Oliveria.