Second-half goals from Axten and Middleton secure victory for Posh Women.
Peterborough United Women claimed their first victory in pre-season after a 2-0 victory over Norwich City Women on Sunday afternoon at the Abbey Lawn following second-half goals from Rosie Axten and Katie Middleton.
Posh carved out the first opportunity on five minutes as some excellent pressing from Katie Middleton saw her nick the ball off the defender, she advanced into the box before finding Jess Driscoll, whose effort was straight at the goalkeeper. Megan Lawlor then had a good opportunity a few minutes later, but her lofted effort went over the bar.
The visitors went inches to open the scoring on 16 minutes as their forward got behind the Posh backline and her effort struck the top of the crossbar. Posh continued to threaten and went close on 20 minutes as a superb ball from Rosie Axten set Lawlor through, but her effort found the side-netting.
The Canaries should have opened the scoring on 24 minutes, but an effort from close-range was sent over the bar. Neive Corry was then called into action as their forward got behind, but Corry saved well with her feet.
Dan Lawlor made a change at the break as Sophie Scargill replaced Trialist B and Posh broke the deadlock on 48 minutes as a brilliant pass from Poppie Brown set Middleton on her way down the left-hand side, she advanced to the byline before cutting it back to Axten who fired home into the roof of the net.
Corry produced another fantastic save on the hour mark as the ball fell to their forward just inside the box, but Corry got a strong hand on her powerful effort to push it away from goal. Both sides struggled to create many opportunities in the second 45 minutes, with Brown trying her luck from distance but her shot failed to test the goalkeeper.
Ellie York was the next player to have an effort from long-range after the ball was cleared from Lawlor’s corner, but the defender also couldn’t find the target. Lawlor’s side continued to push for the second goal as a clever pass from Middleton found Lawlor and she poked an effort wide.
The visitors had a free-kick on the edge of the box in the closing stages of the game, but sent the ball over the bar. Posh sealed the victory and secured their first win in pre-season in injury-time as a long-ball forward by O’Neill was met by Middleton, she beat the on-rushing goalkeeper but slotting home into the empty net.
Posh XI: Corry, York, Copson, Osker, Trialist A (O’Neill, 23mins), Trialist B (Scargill, 45mins), Brown, Axten, Lawlor, Driscoll (Steward, 66min), Middleton.