Harry Ashfield scored twice as Posh opened their Jersey Mike's Trophy campaign with a 3-1 victory over Colchester United at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Peterborough United began their Jersey Mike's Trophy group phase with a comfortable victory over Sky Bet League Two side Colchester United at the Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday evening.
After a fairly uneventful opening 10 minutes, it was Posh who created the first opportunity as Harley Mills and Owura Edwards combined to feed Harry Leonard, but he couldn't sort his feet out at the near post.
Williams fired wide at the other end after a slip from Carl Johnston before Ashfield headed wide from a Ben Woods centre. The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes and it was a bit of a unique one, Bolu Shofowoke's deflected cross fell at the feet of EDWARDS and he struck an unstoppable shot, which hit the underside of the crossbar and then the back frame of the goal before rebounding back out - a clear goal without hitting the back of the net.
The lead was doubled a few minutes later as ASHFIELD scored his first goal for the club, heading home a Mills cross. Smith did well to keep out a well-struck shot from Leonard on 36 minutes before Ben Woods saw a curling effort tipped onto the woodwork by Smith.
However, it was 3-0 on 40 minutes as ASHFIELD curled home in fine style, leaving Smith no chance from around 12-yards. Akande fired over for the U's on 53 minutes before Woods fired over at the other end. Chris Conn-Clarke fired wide and then tested Smith from range as Posh went in search of a fourth goal but it was the visitors who got the last goal of the game.
Fox lost possession and HARVEY spotted Alex Bass off his line and sent a superb lob over his head and into the back of the net from just inside the Posh defensive half.
Substitute Ethan Williams fired wide as the chances kept coming, but Posh were unable to add to their first half tally.
Posh: Bass, Johnston (sub Fox 67min), Feeney, Mendonca, Mills, Woods, Kelly (sub Weir 74min), Edwards, Shofowoke (sub Williams 67min), Ashfield (sub Conn-Clarke 57min), Leonard (sub Ormerod 57min). Subs: Andeng Ndi, Jones.
Colchester: Smith, Perry (sub Oni 46min), Tucker (sub Hunt 46min), Digby, Chiwome (sub Connelly 46min), Williams (sub Payne 63min), Akande, Terry, Vincent-Young (sub Thorn 63min), Kuffour, Harvey. Unused subs: Lo-Tutala, Sesay.
Half-time: Peterborough United 3-0 Colchester United
Full-time: Peterborough United 3-1 Colchester United
Attendance: 1,853 (168 Colchester fans)
Referee: Sam Mulhall