Posh Women: 7 goals, 1,700 fans, and a day to remember
- Charlie Mclellan
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
What a day for the Posh Women!
I was one of 1,700+ Posh fans that flocked to the Weston Homes Stadium on Sunday to watch Peterborough United Women win 7-2 against Worcester City Women.
The day as a whole was a resounding success, with many fans taking to social media afterwards to wax lyrical about the team and experience.
Despite some minor teething issues, I think it is fair to say that the attendees left impressed and that the women have gained a fair few new supporters!
Off The Pitch - Some Great Successes, Some Lessons To Be Learned
I was in the executive suite for the game, and so arrived long before kick off, and had a nice padded seat in the main stand.
All of the Posh fans were housed in a packed main stand, which created a real buzz and atmosphere.
The fanzone was open pre-game, with the freestyler there as well as several of the food kiosks open. This was great for the supporters as it allowed them to get to the match early, and soak up some of the atmosphere.
The club did a good job of promoting the game, and were rewarded with a better than expected attendance.
It was poignant for International Women’s Day that the players got to walk out onto the pitch with women from their lives who mean a lot to them, and the family members and friends of the players selected looked incredibly proud.
The atmosphere in the stadium was great, and really drove the team forward.
After the game, many fans stayed to show their appreciation for the players, who reciprocated by spending a long time down at the bottom of the stand getting pictures and signing autographs.
It was a great idea from the club to announce during the match that anyone with a valid E-Ticket for the game could present that for free entry to Posh Women’s next home fixture at PIMs Park, another incentive to go back and watch them again!
This was the womens team’s first game at London Road since 2022. I hope the success means they won’t have to wait as long for their next appearance.
I understand that, particularly during the winter months, the pitch needs to be protected, however the U21s and U18s frequently play at the Weston Homes Stadium to much smaller crowds than we saw on Sunday.
I see no reason why the women cannot get another fixture at the stadium towards the end of this season, particularly if there is an opportunity to win the league title at home. I hope to see three or four London Road games next campaign.
I do wonder if next time the women play at London Road, the club may be better off putting the fans in the family stand though, like they were for the clash with Hashtag United women back in 2022.
It will be a much more enjoyable experience, particularly for the youngsters who will be able to access a much bigger concourse, as well as Peter’s Burrow.
In addition, more turnstiles will prevent queues as long as the one pictured below, allowing fans to get into their seats earlier.
I recognise that housing fans in the main stand provides half time access to the fanzone, however Posh could still open that before and after the match.
I think having Posh fans in the family stand would be a much better experience for all, and I hope it will be considered next time!
"This was my second time watching the Posh Women; the first was back in 2022 at London Road.
On Sunday, I was really impressed by the quality on the pitch, the speed and directness of the game and the bravery of the players.
As a season ticket holder, I found the style of play much more exciting than the men’s game, with excellent set pieces and shots from distance often rewarded. There was rarely a dull moment.
Off the pitch, it was lovely to see a lot of people who wouldn’t ordinarily come to see Posh. I spoke to many around me who were visiting for the first time. It was also nice to see the younger fans inventing songs and making the game their own.
DMac, please find a way to schedule more games at London Road. There is definitely an audience for it."
Matt, UpThePoshcast writer.
On The Pitch - Just Perfection
Perhaps the most important factor of the day’s success was on the pitch matters, as regardless of the pre/post-match experience, if the team had failed to perform or put on a poor quality game, the fans would not have enjoyed themselves.
Luckily, the Posh Women were incredible, as they have been almost all season. They truly showed why they are the undisputed favourites to win the league and be promoted to the third tier.
Posh scored within the first 90 seconds of the game, squashing all nerves that may have been there due to the size of the crowd and occasion.
From then on, it was a rampant display, with the team often putting together massive spells of possession that almost always resulted in them breaking the Worcester lines.
Set pieces were an area of incredible strength for Posh, with defensive midfielder Kayleigh Hines and central defender Niamh Connor providing a constant aerial threat and scoring two goals each from corners.
Most of the credit has to go to Lauren Wilshaw, who consistently provided perfect deliveries for her teammates to attack, as well as Jake Poole and his coaching staff for brilliantly organised routines which meant the ball always found the most aerially threatening players.
Keir Perkins also netted a brace, scoring the first and seventh goals for Posh. It was a superb captain’s performance from her, running herself into the ground for the team for a full 90 minutes.
Jess Rousseau scored the pick of the bunch in the first half, with her speculative effort from the edge of the area looping over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
The two goals conceded were moments of slight hesitation and sloppiness at the back, however those can be forgiven due to the successes at the other end, and the weight of the occasion.
UpThePoshcast sponsored Kayleigh Hines was the player of the match, and deservedly so. She truly is the perfect midfielder for the way that Posh play, dictating the play constantly and covering every blade of grass.
No notes from me. They will be promoted this season, and deservedly so.
Comments