Taya Smith Celebrating Goal

Posh Women U23s secure win in pre-season opener on Sunday afternoon.

Peterborough United Women U23s secured a 2-0 win over Histon Ladies FC on Sunday afternoon with a valiant all-round display from the players in their first 90 minutes of pre-season at the idverde Training Ground.

It was Histon Ladies who claimed the first shot of the game, almost breaking the deadlock inside the second minute as a through ball on the left found the Histon winger, but made for an easy save for Megan Dellar. The Posh grew into the game and played enticing football throughout, but failed to test the goalkeeper.

On the quarter-hour mark, Posh took the lead as Ellie CURSON’s corner crept in under the crossbar, outwitting the keeper and falling into the back of the net. The Posh Women U23s grew in confidence after this and doubled their lead on 18 minutes as they broke quickly from a Histon corner, Rebecca Meras squared the ball to Taya SMITH who took a touch before firing the ball into the top left corner. 

The Stutes looked to reduce the deficit on the stroke of half time as their holding midfielder pranced onto a loose ball before curling an effort just wide of the post. Histon Ladies began the second period well and once again created the first clear chance of the half as their striker was through on-goal, but fired wide of the target. 

Dellar was forced into action on the hour mark after the Histon midfielder shot from outside the box. Posh reclaimed control of the game minutes later as Phoebe Richards-Reeves released Alice Akymyemi free on the left, but she could only square the ball across the box straight to a Histon defender. 

Posh continued to create chances with Trialist flashing a ball across the goalline, but could not locate Mia Karagholi at the far post. Histon ended the game strongly as they sent a ball towards the edge of the box but a combination of Kacey Sharman and Brooke Robinson prevented the left-back’s effort from reaching the back of the net.

Manager, Michael Allsebrook, spoke after the game: “I thought we played outstanding today. We told the players to enjoy it today, be brave on the ball and try and find the spaces on the pitch. I felt they did that really well first half. In the second half, we were a bit leggy as we weren’t finding the forward balls we were after, but that will come with time in training and match fitness. As a starting point for a team that’s been together for a week and a half against a good Histon side, I thought it was a really good result and a great start to pre-season.” 

Posh XI: Dellar, Richards-Reeves, Hardy, Sands, King, Curson, Podd, Meras, Moore, Smith, Bale.

Subs Used: Wheatley, Akymyemi, Karagholi, Sharman, Robinson, Trialist.

Written by Lauren Shiels.

Photo credit: Darren Wiles (@Darren_wiles)