Peterborough United Women carried over their pre-season form into the league, securing a 4-1 opening day victory at Notts County.
Posh Women opened their FAWNL Division One Midlands campaign in emphatic fashion, securing an opening day victory at Notts County owing to four Posh goals after the break.
Jake Poole’s side had the perfect response to going behind minutes before the break, as Niamh Reynolds’ hat-trick, and a goal from Niamh Connor, completed the second half turnaround in Nottingham.
It took both teams time to piece together their first move, with County coming up with the first opportunity following miscommunication inside the penalty area, but the end strike was routine for Neive Corry.
Lauren Wilshaw was then released down the near channel, cutting in and driving an effort towards goal, but Ash Hind saved well low down to her left.
Wilshaw – who used the left side as an outlet to attack – then curled one over from distance, before Jess Rousseau had two efforts denied at close range, both being well saved by the County number one.
Posh didn’t let the pressure dwindle, as Poppie Brown took the ball on the turn and thundered a shot at Hind, who saved well once more.
Rousseau tested the Magpies’ keeper late in the half, who sent the hosts away on the break, with Shoniqua BARNES putting the end touch on the move to put her side in front.
But Posh came out from the break firing on all cylinders and were rewarded for their efforts when CONNOR met a ball in from wide, with Hind unable to rescue the ball on the line.
Our goal scorer then reacted quickest to a ball from a similar wide position, this time heading wide, before Evie Driscoll-King flicked in a ball towards REYNOLDS, who applied a simple headed finish to turn the game on its head.
The hosts had no time to settle before Posh found a third, with REYNOLDS doubling her tally with a curling effort into the top corner.
Brown then fancied her chances, as our number eight had room to scope forward, skipping past County’s midfield line before striking the post.
Grace Jones bent one around the post for the hosts late on, but REYNOLDS would complete her first senior hat-trick at the other end, stepping up to the spot after Driscoll-King was impeded inside the area.
Posh: Corry, Osker, Pitt, Connor (sub Sharpe 73min), Driscoll-King, Hines, Reynolds, Brown (sub Clarke 85min), Perkins (sub Stanford 73min), Wilshaw, Rousseau. Unused subs: Curson, Mears, Bennett.
Half-time: Notts County 1-0 Posh Women
Full-time: Notts County 1-4 Posh Women