It was a second half goal from Rhys Bennett that gave second in the table Peterborough all three points on a Tuesday night against Fleetwood Town.
Bennett’s close range header saw Steve Evans’ side claim all the points, despite a dominant second half performance from the Cod Army. Wes Burns and Chris Long went the closest, but it wasn’t to be in the end.
Joey Barton made three changes to the side that started at Fratton Park on Saturday, with Dean Marney, Kyle Dempey and Ched Evans coming into the side. Nathan Sheron (suspended), Jason Holt and Paddy Madden dropped out.
At the start of the match it was rather even with both teaming looking to get the ball down on the deck and pass their way through to goal, but it was Peterborough who had the first open chance in the match.
Jamie Walker was the man with the chance, he found a yard of space just outside the Town 18-yard-box, but he could only see his effort from range sail over the crossbar.
Dempsey looked lively on his return to the starting eleven and had Fleetwood’s best chance midway through the first half. The midfielder drove at the Posh defender and as they backed off, there was only one thing in his mind… shoot! He did that, but just like Walker, he saw his shot fail to hit the target.
Peterborough’s wide man Dembele was the most dangerous player for the home side and he was encouraged by his manager Steve Evans to keep running at the Town full back Lewie Coyle, and when he played a one two with Ivan Toney, he found space inside the penalty area, but once again his shot didn’t make Alex Cairns pull off a save.
Marney went off with five minutes to go until the break with a suspected knee injury, and was replaced by Harrison Biggins in the centre of midfield, but that didn’t affect Town and how they approached the game.
The second half began and it was Peterborough who took the lead eight minutes after the restart and it was Reed who floated the ball into the box from the corner spot, and it was centre-half Bennett who rose the highest to nod the ball into the far corner to give Posh the lead.
The home side grew in confidence after going a goal ahead and it was Marcus Maddison who worked the ball well on the right wing. The playmaker drifted inside and pulled the trigger, but it was Ash Eastham who threw himself at the ball, and got a block on a shot that looked goal bound.
Barton played his cards with thirty minutes to go in the match with Jason Holt and Chris Long coming on the field of play for Dempsey and Taylor. Could the substitutes make a difference?
Long certainly did that and within five minutes of being on the pitch, he nearly made it level at the ABAX Stadium. The forward did well to get hold of the ball in the box, he shifted the ball to his right and looked to curl it on the floor into the corner, but it was just narrowly wide of causing Chapman problems between the sticks.
Burs went very close to levelling the score after lovely build up play from Evans and Long, and with the goal at his mercy, Chapman was made to pull off a fantastic save. A great opportunity for the away side.
Next up, a Fylde Coast derby with Blackpool on Saturday.
Peterborough XI: Chapman (GK), Ward, Bennett, Daniel, Tafazolli, Walker, Dembele, Reed (O’Hara 84’), Ward, Toney, Maddison (Naismith 78’).
Subs not used: Tyler, Godden, Cooper, Denton, Cummings.
Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Eastham, Burns, Dempsey (Long 61’), Evans, Taylor (Holt 61’), Morgan ©, Hunter, R. Wallace, Marney (Biggins 42’).
Subs not used: P. Jones (GK), Bolger, G. Jones, Rydel.