Peterborough United boss hails an ‘outstanding’ 17 year-old defender, while the teenager was just proud to be named on the substitutes’ bench

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson hailed the performance of 17 year-old Ronnie Edwards in yesterday’s 2-1 FA Cup win at Oxford United as ‘outstanding.’
Ronnie Edwards leaving the pitch at Oxford. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Ronnie Edwards leaving the pitch at Oxford. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Ronnie Edwards leaving the pitch at Oxford. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Edwards was pressed into service when stand-in skipper Nathan Thompson was forced out of the game with a hamstring issue three minutes before the break.

Oxford immediately equalised, but Edwards and his fellow defenders played superbly after the break as Posh sealed a ninth win in 10 competitive matches.

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Edwards is the second 17 year-old along with Flynn Clarke to feature in the Posh first team this season,

“I had to make a quick decision when Nathan felt he couldn’t go on,” Ferguson stated. “And I felt Ronnie was on the bench for a reason so I had to go with him, and he was outstanding.

“I switched to 4-4-2 for the second half to make it a bit easier for him and he responded superbly.

“Ronnie is always very good on the ball, but he needs work on his heading and yet he cleared everything that came his way. He came up against two very good players in Matty Taylor and Sam Winnall and coped with them very well.

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“That’s two 17 year-olds we have blooded in the first team this season and that is very pleasing.”

Edwards, who played all 120 minutes of Posh’s FA Youth Cup win at Newmarket three days earlier, was proud to have made his FA Cup debut.

“It was a proud moment for me just sit on the bench,” Edwards admitted. “So to get on was very special.

“When Nathan got injured two other subs started warming up, but then the gaffer just told me I was going on. It was a shock, but I just went on and got on with it.

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“It was a struggle up until half time, but I felt comfortable in the second half. I’ve never headed the ball so much in a game.

“I just tried to make sure I concentrated and players like Frankie Kent and Christy Pym were a great help. We managed the game quite well in the second-half and showed great character to get the win.

“Hopefully there are many more games to come from me.”

The draw for the second round of the FA Cup is tomorrow (November 9, from 7pm) on BBC Two and BT Sport. Barnet, the club who sold Edwards and Jack taylor to Posh, will be in that draw after beating League One strugglers Burton 1-0 today.