Peterborough United and their Academy get plenty out of the EFL Trophy, a pointless penalty shootout, a contentious decision, a 22-year stretch without defeat, Eisa’s woes and possible opponents in the last 32

There was a strong argument that the competition should have been scrapped this season to ease a congested fixture list in a shortened season.

But teams with a strong commitment to young players like Posh have been well served by three extra games. Whether or not travelling too far in the competition becomes a hindrance later on in the season remains to be seen. I suspect Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert for one is not too fussed to see his side bow out of two knockout competitions in four days.

Last night 12 of the Posh players in the matchday squad of 18 had represented the club’s Academy sides in the past. That’s a terrific achievement.

In fact eight of them are still eligible for under 18 football. Only Dan Gyollai, Jason Naismith, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Sehat Tasdemir, Mo Eisa and Ethan Hamilton of last night’s squad played all of their youth football elsewhere.

And ask Flynn Clarke if the EFL Trophy is a waste of time. The 17 year-old’s second goal in the competition was a screamer and the boost to his confidence will be immeasurable. Posh manager Darren Ferguson was already a big fan of Clarke who has now ensured he stays in first-team plans for the foreseeable future.

Other benefits from the Trophy have been Gyollai the goalie’s experience of first-team football and much-needed match practice for the likes of Blake-Tracy and Idris Kanu.

The competition has also been good for Naismith who isn’t a member of the Posh salary cap squad, but who took advantage of a rare outing to remind possible suitors that he’s a strong defender with a decent pass on him, something director of football Barry Fry is probably telling rival clubs right now as Posh seek to get the Scot off the payroll in January.

Other talking points from last night...

1) Club record signing Mo Eisa’s confidence looks shattered. That deadly instinct in front of goal so apparent 12 months ago has disappeared. One late opportunity last night, when he found himself goalside of the last defender, was ruined by a hasty shot that sailed miles over the crossbar. His penalty, albeit in an irrelevant shootout, was also a sad effort.

2) Just why did that penalty shootout take place? Cambridge had already sealed top spot in the group by virtue of drawing the game which also condemned Posh to second spot. The extra point for winning the shootout was immaterial and yet the players were forced to go through the motions. Posh certainly couldn’t have looked less interested as they saw three penalties easily saved by home goalkeeper Callum Burton.

3) Back-up goalkeeper Dan Gyollai is an interesting performer. He made some athletic, brave and logic-defying saves last night and yet he never convinced me a mistake wasn’t on the way. Gyollai doesn’t actually catch much. Corners were punched when they could have been caught and patting the ball down before taking control is fraught with danger as it proved for the Cambridge equaliser. Gyollai ensured Posh avoided a heavy defeat though.

4) Why Posh were appealing long and hard for the Cambridge goal to be disallowed wasn’t immediately obvious, but the club analyst explained all afterwards. Home substitute Ben Worman pounced on Gyollai’s error to steer the ball goalwards past a teammate who was on the goalline. The Posh players weren’t claiming the player on the line had touched the ball and was therefore offside, but they did insist he had blocked an attempt by Frazer Blake-Tracy to clear the shot. You win some you lose some as has been the case for and against Posh in the last four days.

5) There were a surprisingly large number of people in the stand watching the game last night. Some celebrated very loudly when Cambridge equalised and even more loudly when they won the pointless penalty shootout. But the match will be recorded as a draw by football statisticians so Posh still haven’t lost a competitive match against Cambridge since 1998 - 22 years ago.

6) Posh will now play an away game against a group winner on the week beginning December 7 in the last 32 of the Papa John Trophy, four days after travelling to Portsmouth for a tough League One match.

Possible opponents are Exeter City, Cheltenham Town, Oxford United (who Posh have already played twice this season), Leyton Orient and the under 21 teams of West Ham and Arsenal. Posh could also play either MK Dons or Northampton Town.

The draw date will be advised soon.