Posh Women Celebrate

Posh Women secure three points under the lights in Nottingham.

Renai Bennett netted her first goal for the club as Peterborough United Women returned to winning ways in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands on Wednesday evening after a 4-2 victory over Notts County Women at RM Stadium.

Bennett’s goal cancelled out The Magpies' early opener before Katie Middleton secured the lead at the break. Takiah Burnett grabbed a brace on the evening to level the scores with a quarter of an hour to go, but Sophie Scargill and Rosie Axten were on hand to claim the victory on the road.

There was just four minutes on the clock before the deadlock was broken as a ball over the top was met by Takiah Burnett, she took the ball around the on-rushing Neive Corry and slotted home into the empty net. 

Posh reacted well after going behind and found themselves level four minutes later, Katie Middleton’s effort from the edge of the box was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to Bennett inside the area and she slotted home from close-range.

Evie Driscoll-King had a great opportunity to put Posh ahead on 14 minutes as Megan Lawlor’s corner was met by the defender at the back-post, but she failed to make a clean connection and her header was cleared off the line.

However, Posh took the lead on 21 minutes and it was a moment of brilliance from Middleton, she received the ball just inside the opposition's half and advanced into the box before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

Bennett was close to doubling her tally as she rose the highest to Lawlor’s corner, guiding her header wide of the far-post. Lacite, who was making her first start in nearly 12 months, could have netted her first goal for Posh as she latched onto a through ball from Sophie Scargill, but her effort was saved by Hind. 

The hosts were quick out of the traps after the break as Emily Stretton advanced behind the Posh backline, but she sent her effort wide of the target. The rain began to fall in the second half and the game became scrappy with both sides struggling in possession.

Bennett saw her effort on the half-volley straight into the hands of Hind before Dan Lawlor made a triple change on the hour mark, introducing Tara Kirk, Rosie Axten and Niamh Connor for Lacite, Bennett and Lucie Mugridge.

Neive Corry produced some excellent reactions on 65 minutes, denying Nicola Russell from point-blank range, while at the other end, Perkins forced Hind into a low save down to her left as Posh searched for the third goal.

However, it was the hosts who found the back of the net on 75 minutes as a pull-back into the box was converted by Burnett. Not even 60 seconds after the restart and Posh found themselves back ahead, Jess Driscoll with a lovely ball into the path of Middleton, her low cross found Scargill just on the six-yard box and she guided her effort into the bottom corner.

The three points were sealed in injury-time as Posh were awarded a penalty after Scargill was brought down inside the box, Axten stepped up to take the spot-kick and she found the bottom corner to return to winning ways in the league.

Posh XI: Corry, Brown (York, 90min), Mugridge (Connor, 60min), Driscoll-King, Lawlor, Driscoll, Scargill, Bennett (Axten, 60min), Middleton, Lacite (Kirk, 60min), Perkins.

Unused Sub: Guy.

Photo Credit: Ruby Red Photography