Town’s Development side put in a spirited display despite going down 5-2 to their Peterborough United counterparts in the Central League earlier today.
A vastly experienced Posh outfit, featuring Football League campaigners in the ilk of Michael Bostwick, Jerome Binnom-Williams and George Moncur, ran out winners thanks to a Mathew Stevens’ hat-trick and further efforts from Ricardo Almeida Santos and Nathan Oduwa.
An unnamed trialist bagged a brace for the Robins, who were able to take a number of positives away from their Central League opener.
The Reds fielded a youthful team at the Mick George Training Ground with first-year pros Will Henry, Tom Smith and Jake Evans being joined by the likes of Will Christopher, Mason Hathaway and Scott Twine.
Brad Barry was handed 60 minutes as he continued his recovery from injury, whilst midfielder Anton Rodgers skippered the side.
Town made a bright start to proceedings and went close on two occasions in the opening exchanges through Jake Evans and a trialist, but it was the home side who took the lead after Ricardo Almeida Santos kept his cool to slot home the opener.
Adil Nabi then bent an effort around the post for Posh before George Moncur was inches away from doubling his side’s advantage in spectacular fashion after sending a volley from 30-yards out just over the bar.
Nabi tried his luck again but it wasn’t long before Peterborough extended their lead, Mathew Stevens seeing his lob from distance drop into the back of the net.
But Town did pull one back before half-time courtesy of their trialist, who expertly volleyed home from Louis Spalding’s pinpoint cross.
Christian Frimpong replaced Spalding at the break for the visitors who went close to hauling themselves level with Brad Barry and Tom Smith both going close to hitting the back of the net.
Scott Twine then saw his close-range effort pushed over the bar by Dion-Curtis Henry, before Stevens turned home Moncur’s cross to double United’s advantage.
And Stevens completed his hat-trick moments later after dispatching a spot-kick following a foul on Nathan Oduwa inside the area.
Oduwa, on loan at Posh from Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur, then got in on the act himself after finishing with aplomb from close-range.
But that wasn’t the end of the action with a trialist grabbing his second goal of the game for Town, picking his spot perfectly to finish off a flowing team move.
TOWN STARTING XI –Henry; Barry (Jack Stanley 61), Christopher, Hathaway (Callum Gunner 70), Spalding (Christian Frimpong 45); Rodgers (C) (Tommy Ouldridge 69), Evans, Smith, Iandolo; Twine, Trialist.
Subs Not Used –Dan Lawrence.
