Posh Women Under 23s suffer defeat to Sporting Khalsa Reserves.
Peterborough United Women Under 23s fell to a 2-1 defeat in their penultimate game of the season, as a last minute goal from Sporting Khalsa Reserves claim all three points on Sunday afternoon at the University of Wolverhampton.
Posh started the half quickly, carving the first chance of the game inside the opening two minutes as Tilly Sands’ free-kick dipped just over the crossbar.
Jess Abrantes drove forward before unleashing her shot at goal, but her effort fell comfortably for the goalkeeper. She had the chance to take the lead once again, following good build-up play, but her effort curled inches wide of the post.
Bale advanced one-on-one towards goal but her effort fell wide of the post. Just before the hour mark, Abrantes delivered a cross towards the middle of the box, but Moore’s header went just over the crossbar. Posh continued to threaten as Arabella Lloyd-Edwards dragged her effort just wide of the post.
The Under 23s finally opened the scoring in the 38th minute as Abrantes ball managed to fall kindly to BALE at the right side of the box, she took a touch before driving her effort low into the far corner.
The hosts came out in the second half well as Brooke Robinson was quickly forced into action as she parried a long range effort around the post. The resulting corner fell kindly to the opposition at the back post, they drove a low shot through the crowded box but Robinson saved it.
Posh began to grow back into the game as Abrantes sent a dangerous high ball over the Khalsa defence; Bale took the ball around the goalkeeper but could only guide the ball out of play. Alicia Podd delivered a low cross into the box towards Bale but her effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
Just before the hour mark, the hosts equalised as the forward collected the ball 12 yards out and fired past the diving Robinson into the left corner. Rebecca Mears struck from distance but her effort was tipped over the crossbar.
Robinson was called into action again as the hosts looked to take the lead from a speculative effort from distance. Substitute Ellie Curson’s curling free-kick was well judged by the goalkeeper, whilst Khalsa saw an effort ricochet off the post.
With minutes to spare, the hosts took the lead as they advanced on the counter attack from a Posh corner; the forward cut inside and played the ball back to attacker who slotted the ball past Robinson.
Under 23s Coach, John Currall, spoke after the game: “Obviously, it’s disappointing to lose the game in the final minutes. I felt we started the game well, we were by far the better team in the first half, creating lots of chances. We change our shape at half time to take more numbers going forward but realised quickly that it wasn’t working; with Khalsa scoring in that period of time.”
“Today we were on the end of what we’ve done to plenty of teams in the past, by scoring in the last minute. A draw would have probably been deserving but its football and anything can happen. We started the game well – it was probably the best start to the game we’ve had for a long while. That’s a positive to take into next week’s final. We can’t change today; we can only learn from it. We will still go into next weekend’s game full of confidence.”
Posh: Robinson, King, Osker, Sands, Richards-Reeves, Podd, Mears, Abrantes (sub Neto 79min), Moore, Bale (sub Curson 70min), Lloyd-Edwards.