Katie Lowder

The Posh Women winning run came to an end on Sunday at the hands of Boldmere St Michaels.

The Peterborough United Women suffered their first defeat of the New Year as they were beaten 3-1 by Boldmere St Michaels Women at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground on Sunday afternoon in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands.

It was a positive start from Posh as Megan Parrett looked to find Hannah Hipwell racing into the box, but the pass was slightly overhit and the keeper was out quickly to smother the ball.

Amy Butler produced an excellent low save on 16 minutes to push away Jess Lundie left-footed effort. The hosts found the breakthrough a few minutes later when a corner wasn’t cleared by Posh, and after a little scramble inside the box, Lois Jefferies was on hand to tap home from close-range.

Boldmere St Michaels came inches away from doubling their lead when Lundie struck the post after a clever run on the edge of the box to evade the defenders and make room for herself. However, on 24 minutes, Lundie extended their advantage when she latched onto a ball over the top and rifled her effort into the roof of the net.

On 35 minutes, Cassie Steward saw her effort on the half-volley deflected straight into the hands of the keeper after Evie Driscoll-King cross caused a moment of panic for the hosts. Jefferies was unmarked from a corner, but she could only get minimal contact on her header to glance it wide of the far post.

Keeper Chloe Quinn got down well to palm away Parrett shot from the edge of the box before Jess Driscoll took aim from a short free-kick, sending her effort well over the bar.

The hosts made it three on the stroke of half-time when a corner from left-hand side was header home from close-range by Jefferies. Defender Niamh Connor was the first player to go into the referees’ book as a disappointing first-half was brought to a close.

Dan Lawlor made two changes at the break as Hipwell and Natalie Hurst were replaced by Katie Lowder and Kayleigh Aylmer. Keir Perkins raced clear on the right-hand side, had plenty of options to choose from inside the box, but her cross was picked out of the air by keeper Quinn.

On 62 minutes, a curling effort from Millie Kirk on the edge of the box was wide of the post as the game struggled to flow in the second-half due to a fair few stoppages. Posh made their third change on 70 minutes as Parrett made way for Ellen Marson.

Lowder forced Quinn into an excellent save as her long-range effort was tipped over the bar by the hosts keeper. The midfielder decided to try her luck once again on 75 minutes and made no mistake this time. Lowder (pictured) picked up the ball from 30 yards out and unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner to cut the deficit for Posh.

Posh had the opportunity to create a nervy final few minutes for the hosts when Steward played Perkins through on-goal, she tried to slot the ball under the keeper but placed it wide of the post.

Driscoll was the second Posh player to be shown a yellow card in the closing stages before Boldmere’s Chloe Rickley was also cautioned for kicking the ball away.

Posh Line-up: Butler, Connor, Driscoll-King, Hurst (Aylmer 45min), Copson, Parrett (Marson 70min), Driscoll, Horner, Hipwell (Lowder 45min), Steward and Perkins.

Subs Not Used: Makanjuola

The reserves were beaten 3-2 by Nottingham Forest Women Development Side at the idverde training ground on Sunday afternoon in East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League. Natalie Halliday and Jess Lavender were the goalscorers for Posh.