A look back at the 2022/23 season for Posh Women.
Peterborough United Women had a record-breaking campaign in the 2022/23 season, including a top four finish in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, securing the Northants FA County Cup and proceeding to the third round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
Top Four Finish & A New Home
Posh improved vastly on last season’s finish in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, securing a top four finish on the final day of the season with a 2-1 away win over second-place Doncaster Rovers Belles. They accumulated 10 points more than last season and improved their home form considerably. Last season, Posh claimed just two wins on their home soil whereas this season a tremendous eight wins were won to develop their new home Bourne Town FC into a fortress.
Historic Women’s FA Cup Run
The highlight of the season for Posh Women is undoubtedly the FA Cup run where we eventually bowed out to Barclay Women’s Championship side Durham Women 1-0 in the third round, having previously never making it past the first round before. Beginning their FA Cup run in the third qualifying round, Posh breezed past Mansfield Town Ladies 3-1 before beating the league champions Stourbridge Women in the 120th minute of extra time and then coming from behind to beat Sporting Khalsa 2-1 in the second round. A tremendous 675 of supporters came to watch the Posh in the third round tie, the highest attendance recorded at the Abbey Lawn this season.
County Cup Success
The Posh Women claimed back the Northants FA County Cup after it spent a year across the Nene with Northampton Town. It was only fitting that they had beaten them in the semi-final before facing their talented development squad in the final. The cup was claimed in tremendous fashion after winning the game 9-1 courtesy of a brace from Megan Lawlor, Tara Kirk and Evie Driscoll-King as well as solid strikes from Keir Perkins, Kayleigh Aylmer and Cassie Steward.
Development Squad Progression
League progression continued with the Development Squad. With a new look management and squad, the Development Squad performed well in the East Midland’s Women’s Regional Football League Division One South, finishing fourth with 16 points. This highlights the progression the club has made having spent most of the 2021/22 in a relegation battle, eventually finishing ninth with 10 points and having played 6 more games than this season.
Top goalscorer for the Development Squad this season was Aliyah Palmer who scored seven goals this season. Throughout the season, manager Shaun Harley gave debuts to several players from the ETC, including Megan Dellar, Ellie Curson, Sophie Goodwin, Casey McMichael, Kendall O’Connor, Edyn Osker and Taya Smith. Numerous players also made their first team debuts including Dellar, Curson, Smith, Osker and Alicia Podd.
Individual Success Stories
Whilst the Posh Women tasted success collectively, there are also several plaudits for individual members of the squad.
Top goalscorer for the season was Keir Perkins who bagged 20 goals in 28 appearances while Tara Kirk claimed 19 goals in 27 appearances, although she finished as the club’s leading goalscorer in the FA Women’s National League with 12 goals.
Back in November, Jess Driscoll, Megan Lawlor and Perkins both celebrated making 100 appearances for the club. In February, Perkins reached 150 goals for the club and was rewarded with a trophy at the Weston Homes Stadium ahead of the men’s fixture.
Neive Corry claimed the number one spot for the Posh Women this season, having made two appearances for the first team in the previous season. In her first full season, she claimed seven clean sheets and two opposition player of the match awards in 20 appearances for the first team this season.
Overall, it’s been a fantastic season for Posh Women with progression made with both the first team and development squad.
Written by Lauren Shiels.