Emily Johnson shines for Posh Women Development Squad as she netted five goals in a friendly against Glinton & Northborough Ladies FC on Sunday afternoon.
Peterborough United Women Development Squad eased to a comfortable 10-0 victory over Glinton & Northborough Ladies FC at Arthur Mellows College ahead of their return to East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League action next weekend against Dunton & Broughton United Ladies.
Posh took the lead within 36 seconds as Aliyah Palmer played through E.JOHNSON on the right, who advanced into the box before firing home into the bottom left corner. Andreia Oliveria had the opportunity to make it 2-0 straight from the restart as the Glinton defence opened up, allowing Oliveria the chance to shoot but her effort was safely caught by the goalkeeper. Posh doubled the lead in the second minute as Oliveira found space on the left and delivered a teasing ball into the box, which E.JOHNSON safely tapped in.
Posh continued their dominance as the Glinton goalkeeper was repeatedly called into action and increased the lead on 19 minutes as Lauren King fed in E.JOHNSON, who curled the ball into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box. Shaun Harley’s side were celebrating minutes later as E.JOHNSON claimed her fourth of the afternoon after dribbling around the defence and goalkeeper before calmly slotting into the net on 23 minutes.
It became five on 32 minutes as KING pounced on a defensive mistake and slotted the ball into the top right corner. Five minutes later, E.JOHNSON netted her fifth of the afternoon as she placed the ball into the bottom right corner after a through ball was deflected into her path. Posh Women Development Squad rounded off a superb first-half display by netting a seventh on 42 minutes after good build-up play found an open Hannah MURPHY inside the box, who took one touch and drilled the ball into the back of the net.
After a slow start to the second half, Posh made it eight on 47 minutes as Alicia PODD volleyed in a poor clearance from 10-yards following Oliveira’s corner. Alicia PODD claimed her brace three minutes later as a through ball from Murphy enabled her to calmly slot past the goalkeeper.
E.Jonhson had numerous chances to claim a double hat-trick as she saw a powerful low shot parried around the post. Posh claimed the tenth goal on 62 minutes as Kacey Sharman’s initial effort was pushed onto the crossbar, only for Aliyah PALMER to slot home on the rebound.
Manager Harley said after the game: “It’s a hugely impressive performance from the players today. We’ve started to find the philosophy that we have been working on since the summer and the girls have enjoyed themselves out there this afternoon. I’m really pleased with the number of chances we created and our one-touch passing, which is something we have been working on in training recently, so to replicate that on the pitch today was great to see. To have the opposition manager complement our performance after the game is also another great positive from today.”
Recent signing Emily Johnson, who also scored twice in last weekend’s friendly, has enjoyed a successful start to her life within the Development Squad: “The girls are brilliant to play with and the club has such a great set-up to be a part of. It’s comfortable for me when I’m playing with such great players, I get to finish off the chances made thanks to the build-up from the defence and midfield.”
Posh XI: Corry, Wheatley, Richard-Reeves, King, H.Johnson, Podd, Sharman, Murphy, Palmer, E.Johnson, Oliveria.
Subs Used: Harley.