Last Saturday Scott Fitzgerald's Under 18's entertained Peterborough United at the Bromley Training Ground in the Football League Youth Alliance Cup Area Semi Final.
After 90 minutes the match was still goalless. With no extra-time, the match went straight into a penalty shoot out. Posh scored their five spot-kicks, and while Millwall did likewise with their first four, Kiernan Hughes-Mason put the fifth over the bar.
It was particularly disappointing because throughout the match it was The Lions who took the game to the opposition, but try as they might to force the all-important breakthrough, time and again they were thwarted in front of goal.
Millwall had so much of the play in the first half that goalkeeper Wayne Drummond had only one serious save to make during that period, and that came virtually from the kick-off when he denied Peterborough's Edward Adjei from close range.
From then on it was a series of Millwall build-ups and missed opportunities, with The Posh relying on breakaways.
In fact, by the half time whistle The Lions had created a whole host of chances, with three particular opportunities standing out.
The first came in the 28^th minute when Hughes-Mason's header was clawed away from under the crossbar by goalkeeper Sam Cole following a perfect delivery in to the box from Connor McLaren.
Two minutes later it was John Marquis' turn to test the busy Cole when he drove to the edge of the Posh area and unleashed a low drive which beat the keeper but smacked against the upright and away to safety.
Then with the last attack of the first period it was Grant Ludford who grazed the upright with a fierce volley which looked destined for goal from the moment it left his foot.
The Lions continued in this vein at the start of the second period and in Millwall's first foray Hughes-Mason just failed to make a connection in front of goal following a long clearance from Drummond which was helped on by Marquis.
Central Defender Omar Beckles, who had gone forward for a Ludford free-kick, headed inches over the bar.
Defender Chris Hegarty denied Matt Breeze with a perfectly timed tackle in front of the Lions' goal in a rare Peterborough raid in the 67^th minute.
Late pressure by Millwall saw a good penalty shout for handball turned down by the referee and Marquis just a hairsbreadth away from clinching the winner having connected well with an Ikenna Ofoche cross in the 83^rd minute.
Hughes-Mason was also denied in the last minutes of the game as keeper Cole somehow managed to push away his effort in a crowded six yard box.
And so to the penalty kicks. Charlie Dove droved home the first for Peterborough and Ludford crashed Millwall's first penalty home in equally confident fashion. Advantage was going back and forth as all the penalty takers crashed their respective spot-kicks home in highly confident fashion. With The Posh leading 5-4 it was up to Hughes-Mason to take up the challenge with his effort. Unfortunately he fired his shot a foot over the crossbar.

Millwall U18's v Peterborough
Drummond, McLaren, Fitzsimons, Rogers, Beckles, Hegarty, Ofoche (Adedipe 84 mins), Janneh, Marquis, Hughes-Mason, Ludford.
Subs not used: Farmer (Gk), Gallagher, French, Stevenson.