The Royals welcomed Peterborough to the Domino’s Arena, whose quick start gave them a comfortable lead early on, which they would hold onto.

Promotion-chasing Posh would show their quality early on during Sunday’s clash, as Hayley James and Tara Kirk would get the goals for the visitors.

Sutton would push their opponents to the final whistle as goals from Anna Renken and Liv Owen would end up being constellations.

Coming into this fixture, the Royals secured their tier 4 status away to Barnsley, the same fixture that saw Freya Smith's return.

Sunday’s clash with Posh would-be Smith’s first start in a Royal Blue shirt since Sutton’s visit to Sporting Khalsa in late August.

Posh got off to a quick start under the sun on Coles Lane as Hayley James’s headed effort gave the visitors the lead.

There wasn’t much respite for the Royals, however, as Tara Kirk would double Peterborough’s lead.

Kirk would strike again as moments later she would get her second and make it three for Posh.

Following the visitors’ quickfire three, Sutton started to put the Peterborough backline under pressure.

Lauren Da’Casto would come close to getting on the end of a stray pass from the Posh defence prior to the Royal’s first goal.

Anna Renken would get a goal back for the Royals as she got on the end of a spill from the Posh keeper.

Following this, Sutton would continue to press as the Royals looked to get back into the game.

Despite big efforts from the Royals, the score line at the break would be 3-1 Posh.

Sutton would come out of the blocks the better side, as moments after the break, a nice ball across from Jodie Price would find Renken, but her effort would go over.

The first change of the afternoon would see the goal scorer Anna Renken make way for Ellie Gibbs.

The coaching staff would also turn to the bench moments later, which would see Holly Payton replace Freya Smith.

Despite Sutton’s best efforts to grab a second, Peterborough would keep them out.

Posh would go up the other end and force Neve Jones into an excellent save.

Millie Kirk had looked to play Abby Bevan through one-on-one with the keeper, but the linesman ruled it offside.

There would be more changes from the bench as Abby Jackson and Millie Kirk came off for Hayleigh Sutton and a returning Eva Cassidy.

Cassidy would make a quick impact as she shot from the left side of the box, and her effort looked to be heading just inside of the far post only for a great save to keep it out.

The Royals would finally get their second goal, thanks to Liv Owen getting on the end of a corner, however, that would end up being just a constellation.

The three points for Posh, along with other results in the league, creates a more interesting title race, a race that Sutton will have a say with upcoming fixtures against Loughborough and Leafield.

First, however, we travel to Worcester on the 23rd of March.