Posh U21 3 (McDonald, Grant, Gordon) Colchester U21 2 (***bohun 2) A grandiose title that has nothing to do with the Premier League as it is in fact open to all League Clubs. On a pleasantly warm afternoon I found myself sitting (along with about 150-200 other hardy souls) in the North Stand alongside members of the Posh 1st team watching the young Posh players take on a physically strong and tall Colchester United team. It was not the most skillful or free-flowing football, with mistakes from both teams occurring at regular intervals, (to be fair that is something I expect from young players still learning and developing) but there was skill on display, a lot of honest endeavour and some meaty challenges from both sides. I was very impressed with the performances of Shaquille MacDonald (striker), Jevani Brown (Midfield) and Peter Grant (Defender) as well as a particularly fine game from Colchester's Josh ***bohun, who scored both their goals and was a constant thorn to the Posh Defenders with his pace, skill and power. Posh opened the scoring after 7 minutes when the ball was played out wide on the right to Shaq MacDonald who then cut inside and deftly chipped the keeper. Within 15 minutes Colchester had their noses in front when, on both occasions, the ball was carelessly conceded by the Posh Midfield. For the first goal ***bohun was able to use his pace and strength to brush past the Posh players, giving Alex Lynch in goal little chance. A few minutes later a sloppy pass led to a Colchester shot at goal which was pushed round the post for a corner. The deftly taken free-kick floated invitingly towards the head of ***bohun who made no mistake from about 10 yards, heading into the far corner past the despairing dive of Lynch. Like their senior counterparts these Posh boys do not lie down and kept pushing forward and, after a series of corners, were rewarded when Skipper Grant headed into the U's net for the equaliser. Just before half-time it got even better, the ball passed out of defence to Brown out on the Left wing, he cut inside, powering past 3 U's players before a fine pass to Gordon just outside the area on the right allowed the striker to cut inside and fire the ball low into the net for 3 - 2. There were no further goals during an entertaining second half, though there were chances enough for both teams, 2 fine saves by Lynch kept his team in front, whilst MacDonald fired a low shot across the keeper, narrowly going wide of the post. Colchester should have equalised just before the end of the match after a Posh attack broke down and the U's had a 4 on 3 attack. However, from a tight angle the U's winger elected to shoot, blasting high and wide, rather than crossing the ball to any one of 3 almost unmarked players. I was a little disappointed with Janaai Gordon, having some experience with the 1st team, stepping down to this level he should be outstanding and he was not. He did not have a bad game, (he has a fine understanding with Shaq and the front two worked well together) but he could have been much better. Firstly he needs to learn the off-side rule, he has pace to burn and can easily afford to give most defenders a yard. He is also a little petulant, throwing his arms up in the air and pouting when things did not always go his way plus arguing with the officials (a little too much like Lee Tomlin for me). Shaq Macdonald on the other hand, on a couple of occasions when he was guilty of a sloppy pass to concede possession, he chased back and harried until he won the ball back. If Janaai Gordon is ready for the 1st team then in my opinion so are Shaq Mcdonald and Jevani Brown, both better players. Michael Richens and Tom Conlon both put in eye-catching performances whilst a trialist playing in Defence with the delightful name of Carrick Moore-Azille seemed quite a useful player (though whether he will stay at Posh remains to be seen).
