Captain Charlie scores twice as Peterborough United progress in the FA Youth Cup

Posh will host Doncaster Rovers next after a performance in Cheshire that was far more convincing than the final scoreline suggests.

Posh played some great football in the rain, but their finishing was weak without injured first-team squad member Flynn Clarke.

O’Connell fired Posh in front from the penalty spot in the 29th minute after a foul on Rod McGlinchey, but the hosts equalised three minutes later with a fine finish from the edge of the penalty.

O’Connell, McGlinchey and Nicky Gyimah all missed chances before the opening goal and the pattern continued after the break as Gyimah and Adler Nascimento were denied by the home ‘keeper while another first-team squad member Ronnie Edwards saw a header from a set-piece tipped over the bar.

O’Connell won the day in the 75th minute with a far post header before Altrincham had an injury-time ‘goal’ wiped out for offside.

Posh boss Matthew Etherington said: “We were really good tonight. We passed the ball well, we kept our shape and on another night we would have scored more. It was just the last part we didn’t get right often enough. Missing chances has been the story of our season.

“We had four gilt edged chances in the first-half and three more in the second, but they kept the belief and got the result they deserved.

“Charlie O’Connell delivered a real captain’s performance, but there were also plenty of other good performances.”

Posh: Pickard, Mensah, Powell, Edwards, O’Connell, Bodie, McGlinchey, Keane, Harris, Nascimento, Gyimah. Subs: Thomas, Chiha, Lukyamuzi, Tonge, Van Lier, Hickinson, Hoy.