Crackers from Axten and Driscoll secure victory for Posh Women over The Mikes.
A cracker of goals were on display at Abbey Lawn as Peterborough United Women secured a 3-1 victory over Boldmere St Michaels Women, extending their winning run to four games in all competitions and three wins on the bounce in the league.
Rosie Axten’s stunning curling effort opened the scoring before Jess Driscoll found the top corner from around 30 yards out to double Dan Lawlor’s side lead with 20 minutes left on the clock. The end was more nervy than any supporter would have wanted as Jade Formaston’s long-range effort dropped into the back of the net, but Tara Kirk came off the bench to claim the points with a goal in injury-time.
Lawlor made one change from last weekend’s victory over Solihull Moors, with Poppie Brown coming in for Evie Driscoll-King and the makeshift defender was straight into the thick of the action, getting involved in strong challenges and was on the end of some stronger ones.
Axten had an early opportunity inside the opening two minutes as the ball fell nicely for her just inside the box, but she sent her effort on the half-volley well over the bar, before teeing up Sophie Scargill on the six-yard box, the midfielder blazing her effort over the bar.
Annie Ackroyd was presented with the visitors' first chance of the game on 18 minutes as the ball was played to her on the right area of the box and sent her effort over the bar before Neive Corry produced a good save with her feet to deny Gabby Maia from close-range.
Katie Middleton’s looping effort landed on top of the net after being picked out by Keir Perkins while Megan Lawlor was in the right place at the right time to clear a header off the line. Jodie Whiteman was called into action in the closing stages of the first half, tipping Middleton’s effort around the post.
The Mikes started the second half brightly, with Corry and Lucie Mugridge both having to deny Ackroyd and Alima Abdallah respectively before Maia raced behind the Posh backline, but Corry was out quickly to block her lofted effort.
A moment of magic was needed to break the deadlock and that certainly came on 59 minutes as Axten received the ball just inside the area, on the left-hand side, and curled her effort into the far top corner.
A double change was made on 61 minutes as Evie Driscoll-King and Kirk replaced Brown and Lawlor. Posh doubled their lead on 71 minutes and it was another goal of the game contender, Driscoll this time picking up the ball and advanced into a pocket of space before unleashing a strike into the top corner from around 30 yards out.
The Mikes pulled a goal back with nine minutes left on the clock as Formsaton spotted Corry off her line and her shot from long-range dropped into the back of the net, setting up a nervy ending at Abbey Lawn. Mugridge produced an outstanding block to deny Evie Billingsley as the visitors searched for a late equaliser.
However, the nerves were put to bed in injury-time, Middleton’s free-kick into the box was chested down by Kirk and she tapped home from close-range to secure three points for Posh.
Posh XI: Corry, York, Connor, Mugridge, Brown (Driscoll-King, 61min), Lawlor (Kirk, 61min), Scargill (Bennett, 77min), Driscoll, Middleton, Axten (Lacite, 79min), Perkins.
Subs Not Used: Guy.
Photo credit: Darren Wiles