Posh Under 21s start league campaign with impressive home victory over Queens Park Rangers.
Peterborough United Under 21s made a winning start to their Professional Development League campaign with a 2–0 victory over Queens Park Rangers U21s at the Bespoke Builds Training Ground. The Posh produced an encouraging attacking display, creating a number of opportunities while also keeping a clean sheet to secure all three points.
The Posh started brightly and created their first opening after just four minutes as Sykut tried his luck from inside the box following a goalmouth scramble, but his effort drifted narrowly wide. Two minutes later, Fox released Kamara with a well-weighted through ball, sending him through one-on-one, but the QPR goalkeeper produced a good save.
The hosts continued to apply pressure and came even closer on 13 minutes. Lolos delivered a cut-back into the path of Sykut, whose effort struck the post. Kamara then fired narrowly wide as the Posh continued to create opportunities.
QPR threatened at the other end on 24 minutes, but Smith and the Trialist produced successive blocks to deny the visitors. The breakthrough arrived three minutes later. SYKUT showed excellent footwork to beat his man before firing home from distance to give the Posh a deserved lead.
Posh remained on the front foot and Kamara nearly doubled the advantage on 34 minutes, rounding the goalkeeper before QPR recovered to deny him. However, KAMARA was not to be denied for long. Abbey picked him out with a clever pass on 37 minutes and he made no mistake with the finish to double the advantage and send the Posh into the interval with a 2–0 lead.
QPR looked to respond after the restart and created a dangerous opening on 53 minutes. Smith did well to keep out the initial effort before Freeman threw himself in the way of the follow-up to preserve the clean sheet.
The Posh continued to carry a threat going forward and almost added a third just after the hour mark. The Trialist rose highest to meet a corner, only to see his header cleared off the line by a QPR defender.
Sykut was involved again on 65 minutes, delivering a cross for Kamara inside the area, but his effort flashed agonisingly wide of the post. McWilliams-Marcano continued to cause problems down the left as the second half progressed, using his footwork to trouble the QPR defence as the hosts searched for another goal.
Sykut had one final opportunity to add to the scoreline in stoppage time, but his effort was kept out by the QPR goalkeeper as the Posh saw out the closing stages to secure a 2–0 victory, three points and a clean sheet in their opening league fixture.
Lead Under 21s Coach Sam Gaughran said afterwards: “There were a lot of positives to take from our first game of the season. It was pleasing to start the campaign with a win, and keeping a clean sheet was another really positive aspect of the performance.
At Under 21 level, the group can change from game to game with different players getting opportunities, so progression is really important for us. We want to see the players continue to develop, make the most of those opportunities and keep progressing throughout the season.”
Posh: Smith, Freeman, Trialist, Nevett (sub Bushell 46 min), Arber, O'Brien-Brady (sub Christoudias 61 min), Abbey (sub Simmons 87 min), Fox (sub Jones 78 min), Kamara, Sykut, Lolos (sub McWilliams-Marcano 46 min). Unused Sub: Bucknor, Crozier.