Striker Craig Mackail-Smith scored his first goal of pre-season as Peterborough United warmed up for the new campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over npower League Two side Barnet at Underhill.
Posh were kicking down the famous slope at Underhill in the first period, but it was the Bees who got the game underway. For the players in red, it was the final chance to impress Gary Johnson ahead of the season opener against Bristol Rovers next Saturday.
Good work from Steve Kabba, making his home debut in attack for the Bees, created a shooting opportunity for Glen Southam on seven minutes, but his fierce shot was well held by Joe Lewis at his near post.
On the quarter hour mark, a left-footed free-kick from Grant McCann drifted just wide of the right hand post as Posh responded with some good possession football of their own. Johnson's men were also looking dangerous from set-pieces, the latest from Arron Davies was nodded back across goal by Ryan Bennett, but Clovis Kamdjo cleared well under pressure from Craig Mackail-Smith.
Another delivery from the influential McCann was guided wide at the back post by Bennett as Barnet went through a short spell of conceding needless free-kicks. At the other end, a looping header from Southam cleared the crossbar after good pace from Marshall caused problems for Charlie Lee, operating at left-back.
The home side did find the breakthrough on 26 minutes as a fine delivery into the box by Jordan Parkes was punched clear by Lewis only for Glenn POOLE to calmly curl the rebound into the back of the net. The former Grays Athletic man showed good composure to finish with Little on the goal-line.
Posh had a whole host of chances to equalise on the half hour mark as first Davies saw a shot blocked by Jarvis and then Mclean was denied at point black range by goalkeeper Cole with Boyd firing the loose ball wide of the far post from 10-yards.
A speculative effort from Boyd cleared the crossbar on 33 minutes as Posh pressed for a leveller. Bennett hit the underside of the crossbar from a McCann corner kick and as the ball ran loose, Lee was upended by Parkes with the referee pointing to the spot. McCANN stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick.
Barnet won a spot-kick of their own two minutes later as Lewis clattered into Marshall after a miss-understanding with Langmead, but the goalkeeper atoned for the error by making a superb save to deny Poole from the penalty spot. Marshall then fired wide of the near post as both sides left space in the full-back areas.
A good clean strike from Mclean was well claimed by Cole on 43 minutes after another McCann set-piece had caused a bit of panic for the Barnet back-line.
A glorious crossfield ball from Boyd came close to picking out Mackail-Smith four minutes after the re-start, but defenders Kamdjo and Dennehy did well to close out the space and it came to nothing. Mackail-Smith was presented with another opportunity moments later, but he headed a fine Mclean cross wide of the target, although both front men deserve praise for their closing down, fashioning a chance out of nothing.
Daniel Leach produced a fine save from Lewis on 57 minutes after a neat interchange with the experienced Kabba who was leading the line well for the Bees. Boyd saw a left-foot shot blocked by substitute Dennehy on the hour mark after good work from Davies and Mclean.
Southam fired wide on 71 minutes as the home side continued to create the chances in this second period. However, Posh put together the best move of the match moments later as Lee, Mclean and Boyd combined to create a chance for McCann, whose left-footed shot from 20-yards was superbly saved by Cole.
McCann struck the outside of the post with a glorious free-kick on 78 minutes after he himself was upended on the edge of the penalty area. Gary Johnson's men got themselves in front with 10 minutes remaining as substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing rolled the ball into the path of MACKAIL-SMITH who coolly slotted the ball through the legs of Cole. A superb cross from Boyd eluded Mclean with Mackail-Smith firing over on the stretch at the back post as Posh tried to extend their lead.
Further half chances followed for McCann and Rowe as Posh ended the game strongly and but for the width of the post, Mclean would have added to the score-line. Moments later and BOYD did just that, rolling the ball into the bottom corner with ease after finding room on the edge of the area.
Final Score: Barnet 1-3 Posh
Barnet: Cole, Parkes (sub Dennehy 46min), Jarvis (sub Stimson 76min), Southam, Kabba (sub Kelly 72min), Poole, Cox, Byrne (sub Hughes 72min), Kamdjo, Leach (sub Yorke 68min), Marshall. Unused subs: Yorke, Carpenter.
Posh: Lewis, Little, Langmead, Lee, Wesolowski (sub Rowe 65min), Mclean, Boyd, Mackail-Smith, McCann, Bennett, Davies (sub Mendez-Laing 65min). Unused subs: Collis, Piergianni, Koranteng, Nana.
Attendance: 547
