Peterborough United began their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 4-0 victory at non-leaguers St. Albans City and manager Darren Ferguson would have been delighted to hear that striker Ben Wright bagged a hat-trick at Clarence Park.
Ferguson, who missed the game due to illness, would have been pleased with the way his side performed, particularly in the first half and the news that Wright had scored a treble in the absence of the ill Aaron Mclean and the injured Craig Mackail-Smith would of lifted his spirits.
WRIGHT opened the scoring just before the quarter-hour mark as he was in the right place at the right time to tap into an unguarded net after good work from Charlie Lee, who played at right-back during the first 45 minutes.
Sergio Torres should of scored before the breakthrough but his shot found the side-netting after he had rounded goalkeeper Paul Bostock. Wright headed straight at the goalkeeper following good work from Rene Howe on 22 minutes and Sam Gaughran also went close before Posh doubled their lead.
Summer signing Tommy Rowe beat three defenders following a mazy dribble which began from the centre circle before slotting the ball through to Wright, who just got a touch to diver the ball past Bostock only to be clipped by the advancing goalkeeper. WRIGHT stepped up to emphatically score from the penalty spot.
Howe then hit the post with a fierce left-foot shot before Rowe shot wide after good approach play from Toumani Diagouraga. Posh made wholesale changes at the interval with only McKeown, Lee, Gaughran and Wright remaining on the pitch.
It didn't take long for WRIGHT to complete his hat-trick, he fired past Bostock at his near post after Dominic Green's cross found it's way to the back post. Scott Rendell got himself into good positions before midfielder Billy CROOK made it 4-0 when he stabbed home from close-range after the home side failed to clear after Russell Martin's cross had struck the crossbar.
At the other end, James McKeown made a smart save from Gary Cohen, who also shot wide from a tight angle, but it was an easy night for the young shot-stopper with Joe Lewis given the night off from action.
Posh 1st half: McKeown, Lee, Williams, Diagouraga, Charnock, Gaughran, Torres, Coutts, Wright, Rowe.
Posh second half: McKeown, Martin, Day, Gaughran, Lee, Crook, Keates, Frecklington, Green, Rendell, Wright.
St Albans: Bostock, Bailey, J. Thurlbourne, L. Thurlbourne, Barnes, Frater, Quinton, Quilter, Roberts, Cohen, Edgerley. Subs: Martin, Chillingworth, Fisher, Jones, Effiong, Davti, Maxwell, Kane, Margott.
Referee: Mick Russell.
