Posh secure three points with an emphatic 4-1 win at Colchester United.
Peterborough United recorded an empatic 4-1 win at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, but they were made to work extremely hard for the three points against a confident Colchester United side.The U's saw a penalty kick saved by Ben Alnwick in the first half and the Posh shot-stopper made a string of fine saves while Michael Bostwick made a series of tremendous blocks.
It didn't take long for Posh to get their noses in front, a booming header from Michael Bostwick was flicked on by Aaron Williams and there was Jon TAYLOR, who took a touch and fired low into the bottom corner.
George Moncur showed quick feet to wriggle into some space on eight minutes, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Posh squandered a great chance to make it 2-0 on 10 minutes as Oztumer's defence splitting pass picked out the run of Taylor, but somehow he managed to slide his effort wide.
Moncur saw a shot deflected behind for a corner as Oztumer was dispossessed in a dangerous area as the U's threatened a leveller as we approached the quarter hour mark.
The home side had the chance to level the scores on 20 minutes as Almeida Santos was adjudged to have felled Lee. Moncur stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Alnwick made a terrific save diving to his left.
Forrester then saw a speculative volley tipped around the post by Parish after good approach play from Oztumer.
The home side had the ball in the back of the net on 25 minutes as Moncur's shot took a deflection off Porter, but the striker was in an offside position and the goal was chalked off.
Elliott Lee saw a powerful effort whistle just past the upright on 36 minutes, moments after Baldwin had followed Almeida Santos in the book for a foul.
Maddison and Oztumer exchanged passes in a dangerous area, the latter seeing his effort well saved by Parrish who then did well to hold Maddison's effort on the follow up.
Massey saw a shot bloked and then Porter guided a header wide of the target as the half moved into the final five minutes.
Parish did well to hold a long range effort from the lively Williams as the half moved into three minutes of stoppage time.
Lee struck the base of the post on 50 minutes as the pace of Massey began to cause problems for the Posh defence.
Posh came close to catching the hosts on the counter attack on 54 minutes as Oztumer fed Maddison, but his right-foot shot was saved by the legs of Parish.
A strong run from Taylor ended with a poor effort from just inside the box as the game reached the hour mark.
Posh doubled the lead on 67 minutes and it was two substitutes who combined, FOX and Coulthirst the men involved and the ball fell lovely for the former who swept home his first Football League goal with his right-foot.
Less than two minutes later and Posh were three goals oto the good, Taylor with some excellent wing play and his cut back was fired home via the aid of a deflection by fellow substitute COULTHIRST for his first Football League goal.
Alnwick beat away a fierce Ambrose effort from long-range on 73 minutes. Alnwick produced a fine stop to deny Bonne with his legs and then repeated the fact from close-range to tip over Bonne's header.
However, the hosts did reduce the arrears moments later as the excellent MONCUR swept home from close-range past Alnwick.
Taylor smacked the upright with a thunderous effort on 87 minutes after showing rapid pace to race onto a Maddison pass.
Bostwick saw a late drive shovelled away by Parish and moments later, Posh made it 4-1 as MADDISON was able to race clear as Colchester left just one defender back, he took it onto his right-foot and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Colchester: Parish, Edwards, Kent, Eastman, Shorey; Lapslie (sub Ambrose 63min), Garvan, Massey (sub Bonne 71min), Moncur, Lee, Porter (sub Akinwande 71min). Unused subs: Barnes, Chambers, Brindley, Wright.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith (sub Fox 65min), Almeida Santos, Baldwin, Bostwick, Taylor, Forrester, Oztumer (sub Da Silva Lopes 76min), Maddison, Beautyman, Williams (sub Coulthirst 65min). Unused subs: Tyler, Zakuani, Samuelsen, Angol, Da Silva Lopes.
Half-time: Colchester United 0-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Colchester 1-4 Peterborough United
Attendance: 5,965 (567 Posh fans)