Peterborough United fluffed their lines on the big stage and bowed out of the FA Youth Cup
Peterborough United fluffed their lines on the big stage on Tuesday night.
For the second time in three seasons Posh lost at home to Northampton Town in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. It finished 2-1 to the Cobblers who belied their inferior Academy status to record a win that was deserved on chances created, defensive muscle and aggressive intent. Posh were far too passive and pedestrian with their passing despite enjoying much more of the ball.
Posh started the tie as hot favourites. They’ve done well against some big clubs in the Premier Development League. The visitors hadn’t won since August.
The Posh captain tonight was Andre Changunda, a wide player Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has been known to rave about on his podcast. Rather disappointingly his first contribution was a caution for simulation.
It was a lowlight of a desperate first half from Posh who couldn’t cope with a relentless press for 15 minutes and then failed to even look like breaking down an 11-man defence as the game wore on. It was all patient passing with no end product despite the odd glimmer of pace and hope out wide.
Cobblers had a long throw threat from Kiantay Licorish-Mullings, but he faked one on seven minutes and played it short to captain Josh Rayfied. The skipper’s strike was pure, but only crossed the line after hitting the post and the back of Posh ‘keeper Ben Wescott.
Posh were clearly unsettled and Luke Gilbert did well to block a shot from Harry Guess, but they conceded a second goal on the counter-attack to a 22nd minute move which involved two neat passes, a clever turn, and probably a foul, before Neo Dobson scored. Referee Ian Ruddock displayed leniency throughout the half.
The rest of the first period was spent with Posh knocking the ball about, seemingly with very little aggressive intent, and without troubling a visiting defence. Shots that were taken were inevitably blocked, while crosses that were delivered were always intercepted.
But Posh started the second-half determined to put on that show that had been promised before the game. A couple of crosses were kept alive in the Cobblers’ penalty area before Patryk Sykut pounced and drilled the ball home in the 47th minute.
But any thoughts of a comeback soon floundered as Posh didn’t create a single otherwhile opportunity. They kept the ball ok, but there was no killer pass or shot. It was very disappointing to watch. Even eight minutes of added time made no difference with Cobblers’ keeper Elliot Smith making no saves of note.
Indeed the best scoring chance of the second-half went to Aleks Jevterevs who strode clear in the 85th minute, but dithered for too long enabling Luke Gilbert to get back and tackle.
Posh: Ben Westcott, Noah Freeman (sub Benji McWilliams-Marcano, 79 mins), Davon Gbajumo, George Holley (sub Tom Unwin, 52 mins), Lucca Mendonca, Luke Gilbert, Joe Davies, Edward Fox, Bolu Shofowoke, Patryk Sykut, Andre Changunda.
Unused Subs: Ignas Sakals, Nathan Atkins, Fabian Claxton, Rylie Fitzpatrick.
Northampton: Elliott Smith, William Ronald (sub Archie Murray, 61 mins), Matthew Oreland, Jozef Baxter, Kiantay Licorish-Mullings, Josh Rayfield, Neo Dobson, Harry Guess, Charlie Carroll (sub Oliver Evans 61 mins), Joziah Barnett (sub Aleks Jevterevs, 50 mins), Freddie Findlay (sub Francesco Obiagwu, 72 mins).
Unused subs: Jamie Morrison, Jason Okunnu, Filip Opiela.
GOALS: Posh – Sykut (47 mins).
Northampton – Westcott (og, 7 mins), Dobson (22 mins).
Cautions: Posh – Changunda (simulation), Freeman (foul).
Northampton – Ronald (foul), Findlay (foul), Licorish-Mullings (delaying the restart). Ireland (foul), Murray (delaying the restart).
Referee: Ian Ruddock