Late drama as Posh retain their Youth League title

Peterborough United scored twice in the final 13 minutes to retain their Youth Alliance League title today (February 13).
Posh Under 18s celebrate their title success. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Posh Under 18s celebrate their title success. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Posh Under 18s celebrate their title success. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Posh trailed Southend, who still had an outside chance of finishing top of the South East Division, at the break, but skipper Charlie O’Connell and

16 year-old hotshot Adler Nascimento grabbed late goals to seal a 2-1 win.

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Posh fielded a strong side with first-team squad members Flynn Clarke and Ricky-Jade Jones both starting the game, but they frustrated by dogged opponents and by a referee who turned down two decent penalty shouts for challenges on nw pro Hameed Ishola in the first-half.

Adler Nascimento scores the winning goal for Posh Youths against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Adler Nascimento scores the winning goal for Posh Youths against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Adler Nascimento scores the winning goal for Posh Youths against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Jones was denied a goal by a fine save and Connor Peters and Charlie O’Connell also went close, before Southend took the lead with a close-range finish just before the break.

In the second half, Posh continued to press with Jones denied again by the keeper and Peters seeing a header pushed around the post.

At the other end, Peters was well placed to clear from his own goal-line in a rare Southend foray forward before manager Matthew Etherington made changes with Nicky Gyimah and Nasicmento introduced.

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Posh eventually levelled in the 77th minute as O’Connell tapped home from close-range after Roddy McGlinchey had seen his effort repelled by the feet of the keeper.

Charlie O'Connell sweeps home the Posh Youth team equaliser against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Charlie O'Connell sweeps home the Posh Youth team equaliser against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Charlie O'Connell sweeps home the Posh Youth team equaliser against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Gyimah should then have put Posh in front, but blazed over after good work from Nascimento as the clock ticked towards the final few minutes.

But then Posh found the winner in style as Nascimento, a 16 year-old talent already attracting the attention of top-flight clubs, raced onto a through ball and superbly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net to spark wild scenes of celebration.

Posh: Will Blackmore, Connor Peters, Aaron Powell, Dave Bodie, Shaun Keane (sub Luke Harris, 46 mins), Roddy McGlinchey (sub Tongue 90min), Chokri Chiha, Charlie O’Connell, Flynn Clarke, Ricky-Jade Jones (sub Adler Nascimento 75min), Hameed Ishola (sub Nicky Gyimah 62min). Unused sub: Kellon Hickinson.

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