All three of our scholarship teams were in action this week. It wasn’t to be for Posh A in their semi-final, but Posh B gained a huge three points in their title charge. Meanwhile, the girls comfortably won their friendly.
POSH A
Posh A hosted Chippenham Town at the idverde Training Ground with a place in the NFYL Cup Final at stake. A place in the showpiece event at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux was the prize for the victors.
But a slow start set the tone for the first half for Posh A as the Chippenham captain came up from the back to nod home from a corner.
And the visitors had the ball in the net from another corner moments later, but the goal was ruled out for a push on the Posh defender.
They did double their lead soon after, though, as their striker shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired the chance into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
It was almost three from the next attack, but Charlie Pywell did well to clear the goal bound effort off the line.
But the Blue Birds did go into the half time interval with a three goal lead as an incisive attack saw them cut through the Posh defence, before tapping home from five yards.
The second half was an improvement from Posh A, but in truth, they never looked like getting back into the game.
Sead Zeneli went close from a free kick and Byron Adiado put in a couple of dangerous crosses, but it wasn’t to be for Posh A as Chippenham booked their spot in the NFYL Cup Final.
FINAL SCORE: Posh A 0-3 Chippenham Town
Posh A XI: Bolland (GK), Hercules, Greenacre, Pywell, Zeneli, Topping, Mastin, Cristica, Simmons, Adiado, Frost (C)
Subs: Gordon (GK), Robalo, Coccitti, Bassendine-Matthews, Siziba
POSH B
Posh B have had an excellent season to date in the CEFA South East 3 and they welcomed second placed AFC Wimbledon to Elsea Park knowing a win would put some breathing space between themselves and the travelling Dons.
Cody GAUTRY gave Posh B the ideal start at the midway point in the first half, profiting from a Billy Munns corner which wasn’t dealt with by the Wimbledon goalkeeper.
But the Dons struck back before the interval with a back post header from a corner, and the sides went in all square.
AFC Wimbledon were reduced to ten men when Jesse Manu was sent through on goal before being cynically brought down on the edge of the box.
Posh B hit the front again when brilliant work from Masoha down the right saw him beat the full back, before sending in a low cross for MUNNS to tap home at the back post.
And their lead was extended to two when MANU converted from the penalty spot.
Wimbledon pulled a goal back in the final minute, as a low shot found the far bottom corner of Tom England’s goal.
FINAL SCORE: Posh B 3-2 AFC Wimbledon
Posh B XI: England (GK) (C), Dexter, Harrison, Bennett, Saville, Buldumea, Munns, Manu, Peters, Gautry, Masoha
Subs: Jacobs (GK), Makaka, Bokqiu, Johnson
POSH GIRLS SCHOLARSHIP
The Posh Girls Scholarship welcomed Milton Keynes based Soccer Assist for a friendly in the absence of a league fixture.
Amber SMITH gave Posh an early lead as she met a low Keira Swanson cross and found the back of the net.
SMITH made it two with a tap in, before SWANSON notched two of her own to put the Posh in full control of the game.
Alicia PODD made it five with a corner routine which resulted in a long range effort finding the corner, before SWANSON completed her hat-trick with another tap in.
It didn’t take Posh long to pick up where they left off in the first half, as TRISTRAM added her name to the scoresheet by tapping home a low cross from Smith.
SWANSON then looped in Posh’s eighth after her initial effort was well saved. Neive CORRY then met an Elloise Copson corner to nod in the ninth.
Soccer Assist got on the board with a goal of their own after their striker intercepted a pass high up the pitch, and found the top corner.
Tallulah FREEMAN made it ten for Posh, finishing well after a lay off from Molly Cunningham. SWANSON then added another by cutting in onto her left foot and firing into the far corner.
CUNNINGHAM made it twelve with a lobbed finish, before Australian defender Sophie GOODWIN rounded off the scoring by finding the top corner from the edge of the box.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough United 13-1 Soccer Assist
Posh IX: Corry (GK), Canjala, Goodwin, Freeman, Podd, Smith (C), Bennett, Swanson, Tristram
Subs: Halstead (GK), Oliver, Copson, Cunningham
