There was a long-awaited return of a Peterborough United midfielder, but he went off before the bulk of the action in a six-goal thriller
Ben Woods made his long-awaited return to action for Peterborough United in a Professional Development Under 21 League game against Watford at the Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday.
Midfielder Woods hadn’t played since injuring a calf in the New Year’s Day League One win at Rotherham United. He played the first half of a 3-3 draw so could now be available for the next League One match at Luton Town on Good Friday.
The bulk of the action took place after Woods departed as Posh fought back from a goal down three times to claim a point. Centre-back Lucca Mendonca scored twice before substitute midfielder Eddie Fox popped up with a 93rd minute point-saver. There was also a second-half penalty save from Posh ‘keeper Bastian Smith. Section leaders Sheffield United lost this afternoon, but second-placed Posh are still three points behind having played a game.
Posh trailed 1-0 at the break to an Amin Nabizada goal, but Mendonca equalised on 49 minutes just before Ejiro Abbey struck the crossbar with a fine strike.
An indirect free kick inside the Watford penalty area after the goalkeeper had picked up a backpass led to substitute Abraham Odoh having a shot blocked on the goalline.
But Watford scored next in the 66th minute against the run of play through Amar Sanghrajka, but good work out wide from Odoh led to a close range equaliser from Mendonca four minutes later.
Smith then saved a Nabizada penalty the goalkeeper had conceded, before Joe Davies conceded another spot-kick minutes later that Nabizada converted.
Noah Freeman and Pemi Aderoju then forced decent saves before Fox smacked home the sixth goal of the game to force a draw.
Posh: Smith, Freeman, Mendy (sub Fox, 46 mins), Mendonca, Arber, Woods (sub Davies, 46 mins), Abbey (sub McWilliams-Marcano, 87 mins), Sykut, Changunda (sub Odoh, 46 mins), Shofowoke, Aderoju. Unused subs: Bucknor.