Posh Women U23s defeated by The Rams.
Peterborough United Women U23s were condemned to a 2-0 defeat to Derby County Women Development on Sunday afternoon at Moor Farm Training Ground despite putting in a spirited performance under wet conditions.
It was Posh who carved the first chance of the game, in the opening minute, as Frankie Pim played a forward ball to Ella-Mai Bale, but her shot was straight at the goalkeeper. Derby began to grow into the game as Isobel Sheridan latched onto a cross, but volleyed over the crossbar. In the sixth minute, Sheridan was through on goal but Megan Dellar did well to distract the striker as she failed to hit the target.
The hosts thought they had scored on 13 minutes as their forward fired a shot at the woodwork before the ball bounced near the line, but the referee ruled play on. The Rams broke the deadlock on 22 minutes as Lauren King’s clearance fell straight to an opponent whose shot from distance dipped in at the far post over Dellar.
Bale advanced through on goal minutes later, but was fouled before she unleashed her shot at goal. The subsequent free-kick was taken by Tillie Sands and her effort ricocheted off the side post.
It was Posh who started the second half the brightest as Pim cut inside and laid the ball off to Taya Smith, but her shot struck Bale in an offside position. On 58 minutes, Rebecca Mears gained possession in the final third and advanced forward, but her shot from distance was saved at the near post.
On the hour mark, The Rams hit the side post as a corner was headed on at the front post. In 70 minutes, Derby extended their lead as a free-kick hit the woodwork, their striker headed the rebound onto the woodwork once again before converting from yards out. Posh continued to push forward and, on 82 minutes, Pim advanced through on goal from a counter-attack, but failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Posh Women U23s Manager, Michael Allsebrook, spoke after the game: “We’ve learned a lot from the game. We played against a team who knew how to win a game of football. Our game plan could have worked, in the first opening minutes we pressed well and caused them a lot of problems, but Derby changed their tactics, played longer and exposed us. We’ve just spoken to the girls about the game, we learnt that we need to be more aggressive in the air and want to win the headers. We know Derby are a good side, that’s why they are unbeaten and top of the league, and they’ve punished us today.”
“We are really proud of the group still. They’ve kept themselves in the game until the final whistle. We’ve learnt a lot and it’s a good experience for the players. We’ve been unstuck by two poor goals – the opener coming from a poor clearance but credit to the player they’ve struck a quality ball into the top corner. The second goal has hit the woodwork twice before going in. Tilly [Sands] had a free-kick in a similar position and it hit the post and went out, so that’s fine margins. We welcomed back players from injury today and they’ve performed well, Megan [Dellar] back in goal for the first time in a month and she’s pulled off some good saves and, likewise, with Frankie [Pim] up front, on another day she would have scored.”
Posh XI: Dellar, King, Osker, Sands, Curson, Podd, Moore (sub 75min, Akinyemi), Mears, Smith, Bale, Pim.
Unused Subs: Richards-Reeves.
Written by Lauren Shiels.
Photo credit: Darren Wiles