Taylor Makes Comeback as U21s Exit Jersey Mike’s Trophy at Peterborough
Tuesday, 6th Oct 2026 21:00
Jack Taylor played the first 60 minutes as Town’s U21s were beaten 4-1 by League One Peterborough United in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy at London Road, the result ending the Blues’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the competition.
The Republic of Ireland international was playing his first game since undergoing knee surgery at the end of last season against his old club.
Peterborough, with new manager Robbie Savage taking charge of his first match, dominated the early stages and in the 12th minute Liam Kelly floated a cross from the right and Harry Leonard flicked a header beyond Town keeper Alex Noonan’s right post.
A minute later, the same combination created another opportunity, Kelly feeding in Leonard, but the former Blackburn forward again put the ball the wrong side of the post.
But Posh maintained their pressure with the Blues rarely making out of their defensive third and in the 26th minute they went in front from the penalty spot.
The ball was played in from the left and Leon Elliott kicked the back of Leonard’s ankle as he sought to clear the loose ball. Referee Matthew Norton pointed straight to the spot.
Leonard took the kick and hit it low past Noonan, who spent the international break with the Irish U19s squad, to the keeper’s left and into the corner of the net.
Two minutes after the first goal, Posh netted their second. The Blues survived what looked another strong claim for a penalty, but moments later Carl Johnston played the ball across the 18-yard line to Harry Ashfield, who shot into the top corner to Noonan’s right.
And in the 31st minute, it was 3-0, Leonard turning and shooting low past Noonan off the inside of the keeper’s left post from inside the area.
Four minutes later, Posh scored their fourth goal in nine minutes, Ethan Williams seizing on a loose ball and taking a touch before smashing a 25-yard strike into the roof of the net.
Town threatened for the first time on 40, but Frankie Runham’s shot from just outside the area slammed against a defender.
In the first minute of injury time, Leonard thought he’d scored his third and his team’s fifth of the evening, the forward tapping in a cross from the left from a yard or so out but having strayed offside, although referee Norton initially gave the goal before changing his mind following a discussion with his linesman.
Soon after, Norton brought to an end another tough half for the U21s with the much more senior Peterborough side in control from start to finish having had a couple of chances which ought to have been taken even prior to the first of their four goals.
Returning first-teamer Taylor had been unable to have much influence in his first game since the promotion-confirming victory over QPR at Portman Road in May.
Six minutes after the restart, the Blues pulled a goal back with their first goal of the competition this season.
Charlie Compton, who made his debut for the first team as a late sub in the Carabao Cup early in the season, won the ball and rode another tackle midway inside the Town half on the right before playing a superb cross-field pass which sent Fletcher through on goal, the former Manchester City man confidently slipping the ball past Posh keeper Alex Bass.
Peterborough, who had started the second half somewhat complacently, made four changes on 56, Owura Edwards, Shofowoke, Kelly and Ashfield making way for Declan Frith, Matt Garbett, Brandon Khela and Danny Ormerod.
Town made their first changes on the hour, Taylor, who will benefit from minutes under his belt against League One opposition, and Runham coming off for Charlie Wood and Shakil Nicolaou.
Nicolaou quickly found himself in a dangerous position when found on the right of the area but a defender slid in to block as the former Spurs schoolboy shot.
Posh restored their earlier dominance, Town blocking several shots in a short space of time, Leonard and Frith among those whose strikes were thwarted. Leonard, who briefly thought he’d claimed a hat-trick in the first half, made way on 68, Harrison Jones taking over.
Harley Mills hit a free-kick from just outside the area straight at Noonan as the game moved into its final 20 minutes.
Khela blazed over from a low cross from the right on 77, before the Blues swapped Compton and Elliott for Corbin Mthunzi and Jayden Adetiba.
Mthunzi, who had been away with the Zimbabwe U23 squad until the start of this week having been with the senior set-up earlier in the international break, picked up a bizarre booking for entering the field of play before being waved on by the fourth official.
With five minutes remaining Walker Shabazz-Edwards, playing his first game after an injury, was replaced by Josh Lewis.
As the match moved into eight additional minutes, Fletcher shot wide from a tight angle on the right.
On 95, Khela shot low past Noonan’s right post from the edge of the area, then in the penultimate minute Nicolaou was a couple of inches away from netting a brilliant second goal for Town, his 25-yard free-kick beating the wall and keeper Bass but striking the post.
The game was a more competitive affair after the break, Posh taking their foot off the pedal in the early stages before their subs reinvigorated their performance but with the Blues’ backline determinedly keeping them at bay.
At the other end, Fletcher took his chance clinically, while Nicolaou was unlucky not to pull another goal back towards the end.
But a comfortable Posh win was a fair reflection of the game with the result moving them to the top of the group, while the Blues can no longer progress to the knockout stage having lost their opening two fixtures with their last game at Colchester next month.
Peterborough: Bass, Johnston, Weir, Mendonca, Mills, Ashfield (Ormerod 56), Kelly (Khela 56), Williams, Edwards (Frith 56), Shofowoke (Garbett 56), Leonard (Jones 68). Unused: Andeng-Ndi, Dornelly
U21s: Noonan, Elliott (Adetiba 80), Shabazz-Edwards (Lewis 80), Mazionis (c), Wilkinson, Doherty, Taylor (Wood 60), Fletcher, Compton (Mthunzi 80), Runham (Nicolaou 60), Mauge. Unused: Bentley, Atherton. Referee: Matthew Norton (Hertfordshire). Att: 1,997.
_Photo: Matchday Images_