I wasn’t at the youth-team game last night, but thankfully Neil Smith (https://twitter.com/#!/Kukee) was and he provides us with this report from the game.
After the first team fell to Sunderland at the weekend, maybe the POSH youth team could bring a little FA cup magic to London Road with their clash against Premier Youth side Fulham. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case as POSH lost to a good, technical side by 5 goals to 1.
The score line did somewhat flatter Fulham, although the outcome was a deserved one.
The first half didn’t create many chances from either side with only one notable chance for each. Gordon-Hutton was managing a few good flicks but they fizzled out to nothing whereas Seymour-Shove seemed to like passing the ball to Fulham.
As the break arrived, it looked like one goal could be enough to send either side through to the 5th round; we were already talking about it going into extra time. How wrong we were, within 50 seconds of the restart, POSH were caught off guard and the visitors had netted. POSH seemed to be unable to control the ball and were losing possession very easily. It didn’t take long for Fulham to score again.
HOT PROSPECT: Janaai Gordon-Hutton was largely quiet last night.
POSH seemed to dig deep and push forward after going two down, they started to compose themselves and started to play some nice football. They scored from an indirect free kick on the edge of the six yard box after the keeper handled a pass back. It was Joyce who blasted it home through a wall of Fulham players on the line.
The youngsters were pushing forward again and the momentum seemed to be with them until a blatant handball call in the area was turned down by the referee.
Gordon-Hutton seemed to disappear from sight and was duly substituted, maybe all the recent pressure has got to him.
Fulham then caught POSH out on the counter attack and netted their third goal, but the pain was not over, Archer made a poor clearance and Fulham gently tipped it over him, with the fifth goal coming moments later.
Man of the match was Wickham, a deserved credit as he battled throughout the game and made some good blocks.
Overall the youngsters played ok, you can see the odd flash of class and skill and I am sure in years to come we will be chanting some of their names from London Road.
The attendance was good for a chilly January evening, 1,245 which made for a good atmosphere.