Posh Women Development Squad played a well-fought match Sunday afternoon as they drew 2-2 with Histon Ladies.
Peterborough United Women Development Squad got off the mark in their second pre-season fixture with a battling draw against Histon Ladies, but left the Glassworld Stadium feeling slightly frustrated they didn’t win as they were pegged back with a late Histon equaliser.
The opening exchanges were end to end as both teams tried to retain possession for longer periods. It was Posh who had the first chance of the game on six minutes as Ellie Scotland saw a cross from the right drift just over the crossbar. Histon had an opportunity of their own as their striker appeared to be through on goal, however, Hannah Johnson cleared the ball with a great last-ditch tackle.
Following the first half water break and an enforced change for Posh, Shaun Harley’s side got themselves in front in the 27th minute. Andrea Oliveria’s chance was initially blocked however she chased the ball down and delivered a cross to Aliyah PALMER who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner from inside the 18-yard box.
Posh were forced into another change just after the half-hour mark as Amy Gore felt the effects of a challenge earlier on. Minutes later, Histon had an opportunity to equalise as their striker had a clear vision of goal but scuffed their shot wide of the post. Histon continued to move forward with the ball and was rewarded with a penalty on 37 minutes as their midfielder ran clear into the box and was fouled by Danni King. Histon converted the penalty into the bottom right corner past the diving King who couldn’t get her hands to it.
In the second half, Histon started the stronger team as Posh’s defence and midfield were caught napping at times. Hannah Johnson came back from out of position to put off the Histon striker from shooting at goal.
Shaun Harley’s side produced a fine move on 56 minutes as Oliveria and Gore linked up well on the left, before laying off to Kacey Sharman just outside the 30-yard-box whose shot at goal cruised just over the crossbar. Moments later, it was Histon trying to take the lead as substitute keeper Katie Cooper produced an excellent save as she parried the ball onto the crossbar. The ball ricocheted off the bar and into the reach of the Histon striker who headed over from 5 yards. Both teams continued to push for a winner with both defences working hard to prevent their opponents from scoring.
It was the Posh who scored next as they reclaimed their lead on 84 minutes. A cross into the box was poorly headed by the Histon defender into the path of SCOTLAND who lifted the ball over the keeper from inside the box. The home side levelled with virtually the last kick of the game as a low cross sent in from the left found an unmarked striker in the box, who pounced onto the ball and scored as the ball came in off the crossbar.
Harley said after the game: “I think 2-2 was a fair result in the end after the changes we both made disrupted the flow of the game. If you base it on the first half, I am really pleased and we almost went into half time one-nil up. I’m really pleased with how we’ve started to push on as a team, it’s only our second game together and we’ve played against a good side with players from the national league and I’d say the girls have held their own. It’s a last-minute equaliser that has prevented us from winning the game.”
Captain Hannah Murphy adds, “I think we played well, there are things we still need to work on as a team but that’s what pre-season is all about. We pressed them well - in particular from the back. Overall I think we showed the development of the squad and today was definitely an improvement on the Thrapston game.”
Posh XI: King, Richard-Reeves, Johnson, Barnes, Macnicol, Podd, Murphy, Gore, Scotland, Palmer, Oliveria.
Subs: Harley, Sharman, Rider, Freeman, Gussin, Moore, Wheatley.