Edwards Earns Posh Opening Day Win

Grant McCann made it four wins from five as a manager of Peterborough United and recorded his first in permanent charge as Gwion Edwards headed a late winner to earn Posh a 3-2 victory at Rochdale.

Camps was denied by goalkeeper Alnwick on six minutes as the hosts made a lively start to the contest.

The deadlock was broken on nine minutes and it was the home side who got themselves in front, Posh failing to deal with a corner kick and CANNON fired through a sea of bodies and into the bottom corner.

Coulthirst fired into the side netting on 12 minutes after a fine slide-rule pass from Paul Taylor as Posh tried to get themselves back in the game.

Coulthirst tested Lillis from 25-yards moments later after a neat run and lay-off from 17-year-old Da Silva Lopes.

Posh drew themselves level on 21 minutes and it was a fine finish from Marcus MADDISON who ran onto a White pass, showed good pace and then drilled the ball across Lillis with his right-foot.

Moments after the goal, Posh were forced into a change with Tafazolli limping out of the action to be replaced by Michael Bostwick. On 34 minutes, the home side got themselves back in front as Anderson was adjudged to have felled Rafferty in the box and HENDERSON smashed the penalty straight down the middle.

Posh drew themselves level on 38 minutes and what a goal it was, FORRESTER exchanging passes with Maddison and then unleashing a stunning strke past Lillis from just inside the box.

Baldwin was cautioned in stoppage time after hacking down Mendez-Laing as there was a breakdown in communication between the defence and Alnwick.

Posh made a change at the interval with Gwion Edwards replacing Anderson. On 50 minutes, Posh had a great chance to get themselves in front for the first time in the game as he raced onto a Maddison pass, Taylor firing wide with the inside of his boot.

Baldwin powered a header over the top following good work from Maddison on 53 minutes. Andrew headed over after a clipped cross to the back post by Camps on 62 minutes.

The first touch of Coulthirst let him down on 66 minutes after a superb pass from Maddison after initial approach play by Da Silva Lopes.

The hosts were now playing route one football to Andrew and it was proving effective, his flick on picked out fellow substitute McDermott who flicked his effort inches wide of the target.

Coulthirst saw a shot blocked after latching onto a short Rafferty back pass as the game moved into the final 20 minutes.

Grant McCann made his final change of the afternoon on 73 minutes with Tom Nichols replacing the hard-working Coulthirst. Andrew fired over from 25-yards as the home side pressed for a third goal.

Nichols had the ball in the back of the net on 82 minutes after sublime play from Maddison down the right hand side, but the referee spotted a handball by the former Exeter striker.

On 89 minutes, Posh got themselves in front as a right-wing centre from Taylor was fumbled by Lillis and substitute EDWARDS was there to head home into the gaping net to send the Posh fans on that far side wild.

Five minutes of injury time was indicated by the fourth official. Posh held on and secured an opening day victory.

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, McNulty, Canavan, McGahey, Camps (sub Odelusi 87min), Mendez-Laing (sub McDermott 58min), Allen, Cannon, Bunney (sub Andrew 56min), Henderson. Unused subs: Tanser, Barry-Murphy, Musangu, Morley.

Posh: Alnwick, Hughes, Baldwin, Tafazolli (sub Bostwick 22min), Forrester, Maddison, P. Taylor, J. Anderson (sub Edwards 46min), Coulthirst (sub Nichols 73min), Da Silva Lopes, White. Unused subs: Tyler, Binnom-Williams, Chettle, Nabi.

Half-time: Rochdale 2-2 Peterborough United
Full-time: Rochdale 2-3 Peterborough United
Attendance: 3,243