Liam Hatch climbed off the substitutes bench to secure three precious points for Peterborough United against a stubborn Barnet at London Road in front of over 5,500 supporters.

Posh won the first corner kick of the game on six minutes after a fairly quiet start to the game from both sides with the first chance falling to Chris Whelpdale, on his return to the starting line up, but he fired well over the bar from close range.

Goalkeeper Joe Lewis made a comfortable stop at the other end after striker Cliff Akurang let fly from long distance.

The visitors were looking a threat from set pieces with the powerful Akurang winning his fair share of headers despite operating as a lone front man role with the highly rated Jason Puncheon playing in the hole behind the former Histon front man.

A long range effort from Charlie Lee fizzed wide of the target on 25 minutes as the home side tried desperately hard to get a foot hold in the game. Top scorer Aaron Mclean saw a shot well blocked from Max Porter moments later with Whelpdale curling the rebound well wide of the goal.

Mackail-Smith was very close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes after wriggling clear but his toe poke was cleared from danger by Porter after the former Dagenham and Redbridge forward had poked the ball passed Beckwith.

A deflected effort from Akurang looped over the crossbar on 31 minutes as Chris Westwood misread the bounce on a hard surface. A snapshot from Lee went wide of Beckwith's right hand post on 38 minutes after a quick throw from Newton caught the Barnet defence unaware.

Mclean then saw a fierce drive fly wide of the upright as the first half entered the final five minutes with Posh keen to get an advantage before the interval.

Mackail-Smith found the side netting from an acute angle after a well worked free kick which saw the front pairing play a neat one-two, however the shot never trouble Beckwith to the disappointment to the home faithful.

Lee fired over on 53 minutes after a neat flick from Mclean fell kindly to his path as the frustrations began to build as Posh pressed for the opening goal.Lewis made a smart save to deny Adomah after the ball ran kindly for the winger as Barnet threatened after a mistake from Newton.

A downward header from Dean Keates was pushed around the post by Beckwith for his first real save of the afternoon just before the hour mark. Lewis made a superb save from Adomah after the winger managed to dance round three defenders before poking the ball goal wards.

Substitute Liam Hatch came very close to making it 1-0 on 70 minutes after a Dean Keates cross, Yakubu managed to head off the line as he was treated behind Beckwith.

The breakthrough was made on 72 minutes as a one-two between HATCH and Mclean saw the ball back heeled into the path of the substitute whose fierce shot looped over Beckwith and into the back of the net.

Hatch and Day were both cautioned in quick succession for late tackles before Posh boss Darren Ferguson made a substitution with Scott Mitchell entering the fray in place of Mackail-Smith.

Mclean saw a header cleared off the line off the alert Yakubu after Beckwith came and missed a floated cross from Morgan.

Goalkeeper Beckwith was not looking particularly great at crosses and he dropped another clanger on 85 minutes but Mclean fired the loose ball straight at the grounded shot stopper.

Barnet won a late corner after a shot from Adomah was deflected wide and when the corner was only half-cleared St.Aimie fired across the six-yards box just missing the out-stretched boot of Adam Birchall.

Final Score: Peterborough United 1-0 Barnet

Referee: Mr K G Evans (Greater Manchester)
Attendance: 5,520 (404 Barnet fans)