The Northants FA County Cup trophy is returning back to Peterborough after an impressive victory.
Peterborough United Women claimed back the Northants FA County Cup trophy on Thursday evening after a 9-1 victory over a valiant Northampton Town Women Development Squad at the Dog and Duck Stadium, with Megan Lawlor, Tara Kirk and Evie Driscoll-King all grabbing braces on the evening.
It was the perfect start for Posh aft they opened the scoring on two minutes as Jess Evans’ cross from the left-hand side found Megan Lawlor inside the box and she guided her header into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
Niamh Connor went close to adding a second shortly after as she rose highest to a corner, but directed her header wide of the target. Aimee Flood produced an outstanding save to push Tara Kirk’s effort from close-range over the bar.
Posh had their second of the evening on 15 minutes as a corner caused a scramble inside the Cobblers’ box and Evie Driscoll-King was there to force the ball home. It quickly became three on 18 minutes and it was a stunning solo goal from Cassie Steward as she showed some excellent close ball control to weave her way through the defence before sending her effort with the outside of her foot into the far top corner.
Kayleigh Aylmer grabbed the fourth goal on 22 minutes as she took aim from distance and sent a curling effort over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The Cobblers' first opportunity came on 24 minutes as their forward got behind the Posh defence, but sent her effort well over the bar.
Posh were awarded a penalty just before the break after Kirk was judged to have been pulled back by the Cobblers’ defender. Lawlor stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly converted to further extend Posh’s advantage.
The Cobblers’ started the second half strongly and called Neive Corry into action as the Posh rushed out quickly and got low to block their forward’s effort. Dan Lawlor’s side netted their sixth goal on 54 minutes as Kirk played a lovely ball over the top to Perkins and she advanced into the box before firing her effort into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later, Driscoll-King had her second of the game and Posh’s seventh as Lawlor’s cross from the right-hand side went over the keeper and came off the back-post, but the defender, who was already on the floor somehow, managed to head the ball over the line.
Northampton Town pulled a goal back on 59 minutes as Onachukwu Ndefo burst through on-goal before slotting the ball past Corry. Kirk eventually found her goal of the evening on 66 minutes as Evans advanced to the byline before sending a low cross into the box and Kirk was there to tap home from close-range.
Posh rounded off the scoring on 79 minutes as Lawrence found Kirk inside the area, she twisted and turned onto her left-foot before firing low into the bottom corner. Corry was called into action in the closing stages of the game, getting a strong hand on an effort before Lucie Mugridge was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Posh XI: Corry, Aylmer, Connor, Mugridge, Driscoll-King (Hendrick, 68min), McConville (Curson, 68min), Evans, Steward, Lawlor (Lawrence, 63min), Perkins (Oliveira, 63min), Kirk.