REPORT: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1, PETERBOROUGH UNITED 1 (Cambridge won 3-1 on penalties): Posh denied top spot at the death, but Cambridge would have been very unlucky losers

Peterborough United face an away trip in the first knockout round of the Papa John Trophy after conceding an 87th minute equaliser at local rivals Cambridge United tonight (November 10).
Flynn Clarke scores for Posh at Cambridge. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Flynn Clarke scores for Posh at Cambridge. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Flynn Clarke scores for Posh at Cambridge. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Posh led from the 49th minute through 17 year-old Flynn Clarke’s fine strike, but the hosts peppered the visiting goal for the rest of the game and would have been most undeserving losers.

Posh ‘keeper Dan Gyollai made some great saves, but was to blame for Cambridge substitute Ben Worman’s late leveller.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The draw ensured Cambridge topped the group and banked a home tie, but the teams were still forced to go through a penalty shootout which Posh, who didn’t field a single player likely to play in their League One match at the weekend, lost 3-1.

As expected the teams made 14 changes to their starting line-ups between them with Posh responsible for eight. Only Mo Eisa, who skippered Posh tonight, midfielder Ethan Hamilton and defender Frazer Blake-Tracy survived from Saturday’s FA Cup win at Oxford.

Twelve of the Posh matchday squad have played for the club’s Academy side.

Posh took time to hit their stride with the hosts missing the best two opportunities of the first half, after Andrew Dallas had curled a 15 yard strike against the outside of the post.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

First a fine interchange between Dallas and Hirem Boateng in the 25th minute saw the latter break clear into the area, but Gyollai made a fine save.

And five minutes later Boateng’s superb left-wing cross found Harvey Knibbs unguarded six yards from goal, but he headed over.

Posh rallied and on 34 minutes a lovely Blake-Tracy cross was diverted over the bar by Idris Kanu from close range.

Serhat Tasdemir then rattled the crossbar three minutes before the break with a terrific 20 yard effort.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ronnie Edwards had half a chance from a deep corner in the last minute of the half, but blazed over.

Posh opened the scoring four minutes into the second half. Ethan Hamilton found Clarke in space and the teenager unleashed a superb shot from 25 yards which entered the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Clarke was soon inches away from playing Eisa in before the hosts took control of the action.

Gyollai made a remarkable save to thwart Dallas from close range and also did well to keep out Idris El Mazouni’s shot from the edge of the area. Centre-back Harry Darling then headed over from close range following a free kick.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The pressure was unrelenting. Gyollai’s poor pass out from his own area led to a free kick that Tom Knowles sent goalwards, only for the ‘keeper to redeem himself with a fine save.

Gyollai again came to the rescue 10 minutes from time when a 20-yard shot through many bodies from Adam May was tipped away.

Gyollai made one more superb close-range stop from Dallas, but as he went to gather the ball he dropped it at the feet of Worman who scored from a tight angle, a goal the home side thoroughly deserved, while Posh protested about a possible offside.

A pointless penalty shootout then ensued as Posh could no longer win the group and Harrison Burrows, Tasdemir and Eisa all saw their spotkicks saved by Cambridge goalkeeper Callum Burton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Posh: Dan Gyollai, Jason Naismith, Ronnie Edwards, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Idris Kanu (sub Benjamin Mensah, 74 mins), Ethan Hamilton, Kyle Barker, Serhat Tasdemir, Flynn Clarke, Mo Eisa.

Unused substitutes: Will Blackmore, Bobby Copping, Charlie O’Connell, Luke Harris, Aaron Powell, Nicky Gyimah.

Cambridge: Callum Burton, Harry Darling, Andrew Dallas, Harrison Dunk, Robbie Cundy, Leon Davies, Idris El Mizouni, Adam May, Tom Knowles, Harvey Knibbs (sub Joe Neal, 80 mins), Hiram Boateng (sub Ben Worman, 66 mins).

Unused substitutes: Dimi Mitoz, Kyle Knoyle, Greg Taylor, Kai Yearn.

Goals: Posh - Clarke (49 mins).

Cambridge United - Worman (87 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Blake-Tracy (foul), Clarke (delaying the restart).

Cambridge United - Dunk (foul).

Referee: John Busby 5.

Related topics: