Saturday 26th May

End of season friendly

  One more game to bring the season to a close a trip to The ABAX Stadium home of The Posh… Peterborough United FC, their Ladies side taking on Ipswich Town Ladies U21s in an end of season friendly.

A celebration for Peterborough United Ladies, fast becoming one of the leading forces for women’s football in Peterborough, newly crowned Champions of EMWRFL (East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League) Division One South will be joining Peterborough Northern Star Ladies in the Premier Division next season one step away from the FAWPL. Dropping just 5 points on their way to the title this season winning 16 of their 18 games. An opportunity to play at The ABAX Stadium again at the end of their successful season.

  Their opponents Ipswich Town Ladies U21s replacing Aston Villa Lades who were originally scheduled to bring a team up to The ABAX Stadium. Ipswich Town Ladies the leading force for women’s football in Suffolk, the first team finishing 3rd in FAWPL South East Division One, are backed up by a Development team competing at Regional level and an academy squad which make up the bulk of today’s squad very young with many 16 & 17 year olds featuring.

  The venue for this evenings friendly The ABAX Stadium home of The Posh, Peterborough United competing in EFL League One. Have been here before when Peterborough United Ladies entertained West Ham United Ladies in an end of season friendly just a spectator then decided to cover the game for Women’s Football East this time around as I haven’t gotten around to seeing then earlier in the season. An impressive stadium 3 large seated stands with terracing behind one of the goals a great surface to play on. Warm weather at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Peterborough United Ladies starting XI – Sophie Powell, Imogen James, Kathryn Lusk, Bronwyn Mulheron, Jeorgia Carr, Laura Patrick, Amy Challis, Emma Stevenson, Tash Applegate, Jess Driscoll & Keir Perkins (C). Subs – Amy Gore, D’Lacy Phillips, Emily Smith, Georgia Bainbridge, Rhea Patel & Leah Crawford.

 Ipswich Town Ladies starting XI – Ellie Bird, Chloe Dunn, Eva Hubbard (C), Olivia Bilson, Lucy Egan, Blue Wilson, Sarah Woodbyrne, Amy Leigh Abrehart, Georgie Morton, Eloise King & Miagh Downey. Subs – Emma Wallis, Naomi Bedeau, Holly Northfield, Abbie Lafeyette & Mia Cinque.

(roll on roll off substitutes)

 Ipswich in an all orange kit to get the friendly kicked off. Peterborough lined up opposite wearing blue shirt with navy across the shoulders, blue shorts and red socks. The setting sun an issue for the Ipswich defence to deal with as it falls low behind the ground. Ipswich attack the ball played long out to Georgie Moreton on the right a run with the ball before sweeping a good ball into the six yard box Kathryn Lusk clearing the ball for Peterborough.

 A strong start to the game from Ipswich moving forwards with purpose have Peterborough on the back foot defending deep. Trying to get out in attack Peterborough’s Amy Challis attempts to play the ball in through the middle for striker and captain Keir Perkins to chase down, Lucy Egan with a vital defensive challenge for Ipswich. Tash Applegate back helping her defence charges down a cross on the right as Chloe Dunn gets forwards from right back for Ipswich. 

  GOAL! Ipswich go on to take an early lead in the match awarded a free-kick out wide left around 25 yards from goal, winger Amy Leigh Abrehart. A very good delivery fired in low towards the near post a crowd there the ball finding it’s way into the back of the net the crowd slow to react as the referee awards the goal Abrehart awarded it 0-1.

  Ipswich press their early advantage moving the ball well across the pitch. Captain Eva Hubbard brings the ball on from left-back for Ipswich fires a diagonal ball in low towards the top of the box, Eloise King the target, Laura Patrick defending for Peterborough. Dunn coming on to support Morton on the right Applegate again with good defensive work with her sides pushed back unable to get anything going in attack. Both Peterborough centre backs Lusk and Bronwyn Mulheron clearing inside the six yard box as Ipswich get crosses in. 

  Jess Driscoll brings the ball on through the middle tries to pick out Perkins ahead of her as she breaks in behind the Ipswich defence positioned on the halfway line, Egan intercepting the pass. Sarah Woodbyrne gets hold of the ball in midfield for Ipswich sends a pass out to Abrehart on the left 25 yards out unleashes a shot Peterborough goalkeeper Sophie Powell with an excellent save throwing herself at the ball getting a touch upon it taking it wide of goal a corner awarded. The delivery good helped on across the six yard box an instinctive touch at the far post the ball placed wide for the goal kick.

   Mulheron back to clear the ball off the line for Peterborough as a cross from Abrehart on the left is over Powell coming towards her near post. Ipswich have been really impressive in the opening exchanges working the ball well energetic making runs off the ball someone always available for a pass. Peterborough pushed back have limited chances up front Perkins isolated always ready to break off the last defender tries to get after an over the top pass but Ipswich goalkeeper Ellie Bird out of her area early can get to the ball first. 

 Challis on the ball for Peterborough wins a throw right side a chance for Peterborough to occupy Ipswich territory the ball worked back to Mulheron lifted up into the area for Perkins good control to bring the ball down turns out to the left her shot charged down by Olivia Bilson in close attendance, Bird can gather up the loose ball. Ipswich are quick to get the ball up the other end Wilson on for Morton right side her cross into the area claimed by Powell.   

GOAL! Ipswich double their lead are awarded a free kick for handball in a dangerous position on the right Morton to put the ball in as players come up from the back. Is a great delivery fired in head height into the six yard box headed on Bilson turns the ball into the back of the net from close range 0-2. 

Peterborough were readying a change before the goal Georgia Bainbridge entering the action now for Jeorgia Carr. A top draw save from Powell as the ball is knocked down for King to strike from the top of the area for Ipswich hit first time dipping Powell throws herself to her right getting a glove on the ball to take it wide for the corner. Players up from the back once again for Ipswich Bilson goes for it again inside the six yard box but can’t get a clean connection on the ball as Peterborough get the ball away to safety. make a second change Applegate coming off for Amy Gore. 

  A free-kick to Peterborough on halfway left side the ball up into the box spilt by Bird as she goes to claim, Perkins after it but Ipswich scramble away for the throw. Left side the ball put into Challis she turns inside having a shot from 25 yards out her effort over the crossbar. Imogen James comes off for Peterborough with D’Lacy Phillips coming on. Wilson with a give and go with Woodbyrne in the middle for Ipswich after the return pass inside the box Lusk with a good tackle on her for Peterborough to win the ball back. 

  Hubbard with the pass on for Abrehart left side her cross claimed by Powell with Miagh Downey closing her down. Morton finding space on the right for Ipswich gets in behind a cross flashed in across the face of goal. Bainbridge with a good run and pass on for Perkins peeling away top of the area Ipswich defending the ball away for the corner defended near post. Ipswich counter attacking quickly Abrehart on the left the ball on into the area brilliant recovery from Emma Stevenson making the tackle to deny Ipswich a shot at goal the ball away for a corner on the right.

GOAL! Ipswich extend their lead from the corner a great ball played in from the right headed on along the six yard line to King positioned far post sending her header back in and across the line to make it 0-3.

GOAL! Peterborough with an instant response get up the other end from the restart get up the other end and pull a goal back. The ball played up top towards Perkins 20 yards out Challis providing the run going beyond her into the area getting onto the end of the ball and lashing a shot up over the keeper to smash against the crossbar and bounce down over the line 1-3.

  Into stoppage time Ipswich with one last attack Morton on the right with a good cross into the six yard box Patrick with good defensive work to play the ball back to her keeper as she tracks King’s run. 

Half-time Peterborough United Ladies 1-3 Ipswich Town Ladies U21s

  A strong 1st half display from Ipswich Town Ladies young side have dominated pushing Peterborough back moving well with and without the ball, energetic have used the whole pitch well and defending a high line have restricted Peterborough attacks keeping them for large periods penned back in the final 3rd. Scoring 3 goals they have all come for set-pieces. Peterborough have struggled to get anything going in attack working hard to defend however pulling it back to 3-1 keeps them in the game as we go into the 2nd half.

  4 changes for Ipswich at the start of the second half, Emma Wallis, Naomi Bedeau, Holly Northfield and Abbie Lafeyette the players coming on. It’s Peterborough to get things underway in the 2nd period. On the attack early the ball with Challis on the right a high ball played into the box Ipswich head clear. The visitors attack the ball through the middle squeezed through to Morton making a run into the area right side shoots her low effort saved by Powell out for a corner. Peterborough bring the ball on Driscoll into Bainbridge 20 yards out central slices her shot wide of the Ipswich goal. 

 GOAL! Just what Peterborough didn’t want at the start of the 2nd half Ipswich going further into the lead and from another set-piece. Downey with good work on the right to win a corner. The ball played short up to Morton positioned upon the corner of the area a superb ball played in towards goal Lafayette with the run central to volley the ball home from close range 1-4.

  Ipswich attacking the ball played into King drifting left knocks the pass inside to Woodbyrne arriving top of the area her strike sent wide across the face of the Peterborough goal. Lafayette scuffs a chance inside the D allowing Peterborough to clear as the cross is fired into her from Morton on the right. Lusk charging down a shot as Ipswich keep the ball from a corner kick. A mistake from Bird presents Driscoll with a shooting opportunity as her goal kick goes straight to the Peterborough midfielder 30 yards from goal tries to lob a shot back in the keeper off her line the ball dropping wide of the post.

  Morton drills a shot in from the right Powell with a cracking save to tip the ball over her crossbar at her near post. The ball played into Wilson at the top of the area, her shot defended by Lusk. Play spread the ball put out to Morton in space on the right her cross defended by Mulheron over for the corner. The ball played long across the area falls to King lashes a shot in takes a deflection putting a wide a corner signalled, Peterborough defend and try to counter attack Ipswich stop them on halfway.

GOAL! Downey gets on the scoresheet for Ipswich a run into the box as Morton picks it up on the right charging forwards lays the pass on into the area Downey throwing herself at it taking it past the advancing Powell and on into the back of the net 1-5.

  Lusk comes off for Peterborough, James returning to the action. Emily Smith also on for Stevenson. The changes thick and fast now Ipswich with a double switch Mia Cinque and Abrehart returning on for Woodbyrne and Downey. Ipswich with a free-kick in a dangerous position inside the D, Cinque on the ball clips the wall allowing Powell to come and gather beyond. Gore with a dipping shot in on goal from distance for Peterborough, Bird back on her line is right behind it for Ipswich.

  Abrehart with a pacy run on the left fires a low strike in towards the near post Powell diving can’t stop it is saved by the woodwork the ball gathered by the keeper. Rhea Patel and Leah Crawford come on for Peterborough replacing Challis and Phillips. Frustration for Peterborough their is room in behind the Ipswich defence they just cannot find that all important final ball as the game enters the final 15 minutes. Smith picks up a knock her knee already bandaged comes off for Peterborough Carr back on.

  Bainbridge with a good ball out to Driscoll making a run to her right her cross flighted into the area won by Ipswich’s Bilson. Cinque with great control centrally as the ball is played up to her sends it out to Abrehart wide left takes it inside tackled the ball is sent in towards goal from distance lands on the roof of Powell’s net. Woodbyrne and Dunn come back on for Ipswich King and Morton giving way. Driscoll bringing the ball on left side knocks it on for Perkins ahead of her into the box Bird rushing out sliding in to make the save at the attackers feet. 

  Perkins last action of the game as she is replaced by Applegate late on in attack. Ipswich get the ball on Dunn linking up with Abrehart and Cinque sees a 20 yard shot put over. Abrehart with a 25 yard effort on goal out on the left wide of target. Alot of changes equals alot of stoppage time. Ipswich finishing strongly Cinque with a mazy dribble central sends a shot over the bar from the top of the area. 

  A throw won by Peterborough inside the Ipswich half worked inside to Carr at the top of the area moves into a central position before angling a shot in on goal her low drive scooped up by Bird. Woodbyrne with the run central the ball at her feet pushed into Cinque goes on past her getting the return pass sends her shot in wide across the face of goal. 

Full time Peterborough United Ladies 1-5 Ipswich Town Ladies U21s

  Ipswich win the game 5-1 were impressive from start to finish getting an early goal in both halves to keep them on the front foot. Energetic moved the ball quickly and spread play out to both wingers. Ironically 4 of their 5 goals came from set-pieces all taken well however. Not the end to the season Peterborough would have liked worked hard defensively Powell with some outstanding saves, just couldn’t get anything going in attack should take nothing away from an excellent season nevertheless. Several Ipswich 1st teamers have mentioned on social media how bright the future looks and with this squad coming through it’s easy to see why.

Women’s Football East – Player of the Match

 One more time this season the award for the Women’s Football East – Player of the Match. Several contenders from the Ipswich squad but after reading the notes on name featured more than the rest and made choosing alot easier. With her pace and movement on the right finding space and excellent deliveries into the area Georgie Morton is today’s Player of the Match.

A good game to end the season thanks to everyone at The ABAX Stadium for their help this evening.