Posh Women U23s come from behind to win against Stourbridge Reserves.
A wonder strike from Lauren King and a header from Ella-Mai Bale completed a second half comeback for Peterborough United Women U23s as they secured a 2-1 victory over Stourbridge Reserves at the idverde Training Ground in the FA Women’s National League Reserves Midlands Division.
The Glassgirls’ started the game strongly as they hit the post in the opening minutes of the game as a cross into the box was knocked on towards goal. Arabella Lloyd-Edwards found Bale in the box, who beat the defender but mis-controlled the ball before she could get an effort away. Stourbridge immediately went on the break with the attacker beating the offside trap, however Megan Dellar ran out and claimed the ball first.
Stourbridge took the lead on the half hour mark as a cross into the box was met by Dellar – who appeared to be fouled by the nearby forward – but the ball fell to the attacker at the far post who headed into a relatively empty net. Posh looked to chase an instant equaliser as Taya Smith drilled a low ball across goal but Bale could only hit the side netting. Stourbridge advanced towards goal minutes before half time but Dellar dived down low to prevent them from doubling the lead.
The Glassgirls’ started the second half strongly with a free-kick from distance well handled by Dellar. Posh quickly went onto the counter attack as Jess Abrantes cut inside before curling an effort towards goal, but her effort was comfortably held by the goalkeeper.
Posh Women U23s equalised in the 77th minute as King collected the ball on the right wing, she advanced forward before striking the ball in the top right corner from distance. The hosts continued to press as Ellie Curson’s free-kick fell just over the crossbar. Posh didn’t have to wait long to turn the game around as Curson’s in-swinging corner was met at the far post by Bale who headed in from yards out.
Stourbridge looked to draw level as the forward drove forward but a combination of Edyn Osker and Tillie Sands cleared the ball away. Bale had the chance to seal three points in injury time as she latched onto a poor goal kick but saw her effort fall wide of the post.
Manager, Michael Allsebrook, spoke after the game, “It’s a great second half from the girls today. Stourbridge put the pressure on us; they played with the wind and put high balls onto us. But we found a way to win again as we have done over recent weeks. The average age of this squad is 17 and they continue to progress. The resilience they demonstrate to get back into the game is great. It’s another positive result and sets us up for an important and busy February.
“We changed things slightly today by playing a diamond to get that extra body in midfield. The girls know that system well and how to hurt teams and they did that in the second half today. It was a great goal from Lauren (King); she’s shown real technique to strike the ball where the goalkeeper can’t get it. It was a great performance from her having come on at half time. It was good to get Ella-Mai (Bale) back from injury. We know that Ellie (Curson) can put a great delivery into the box and she’s found Ella at the far post. Hopefully she can have an injury free end to the season and continue scoring goals for us.
“It’s been difficult not giving players the minutes that they deserved, especially during a tough January fixture list. Brooke (Robinson) and Mushtaq got onto the pitch, Nidia (Neto) did well at centre-back and Alice (Akinyemi) came on early in the second half and showed some real glimpses of quality. We were missing Rebecca (Mears) to the first team today; we’ve got to keep finding the next player to step up and make sure we not only have a strong starting eleven but a strong squad of 17, and today they demonstrated that.”
POSH XI: Dellar (sub Robinson 88min), Richards-Reeves, Osker, Sands (sub Neto 88min), Abrantes, Curson, Podd, Moore (sub King 46min), Smith (sub,Mushtaq 90min), Bale, Lloyd-Edwards (sub Akinyemi 70min).