Posh Start Campaign With Excellent Away Win

Ephron Mason-Clark scored the winner as Posh picked up a notable opening day success at Reading.

Peterborough United started the new Sky Bet League One campaign in fine fashion with a 1-0 victory at Reading with skipper Ephron Mason-Clark heading the winner just before the interval as Darren Ferguson’s men put in an excellent display on the road.

After a cagy opening to proceedings, it was the referee who was the early man in the middle as he booked Peter Kioso for a foul. Nicholas Bilokapic made a smart stop to keep out Ehibhatiomhan on seven minutes after the striker managed to find some space in the penalty area.

On 13 minutes, Ephron Mason-Clark did brilliantly well to wriggle out of a tight space and find Joel Randall, but the former Exeter man rifled his left-foot shot over the top. Bilokapic was well placed to push over a curling effort from Harvey Knibbs four minutes later before Andy Carroll saw a towering header gathered by the Posh keeper.

Bilokapic made another really smart stop on 20 minutes to keep out a shot on the turn by Ehibatiomhan as Reading continued to threaten. Hutchinson was cautioned for wiping out Randall on the counter-attack moments later, but as the referee played advantage, nothing materialised for Posh.

Dean Bouzanis produced an unbelievable stop to keep out skipper Mason-Clark on 27 minutes after Collins had closed down a clearance, the winger cutting inside before letting from 25-yards. Reading boss Ruben Selles was cautioned for a dissent on 34 minutes by referee Simon Mather.

Andy Yiadom was booked for throwing the ball into the stand after failing to keep the ball in play on 38 minutes much to the delight of the Posh fans nearby. On 42 minutes, Posh opened the scoring and what a header it was from the skipper Ephron MASON-CLARK, towering at the back post, back across goal and into the corner. On the stroke of half-time, Poku saw a powerful drive pushed aside by Bouzanis as Posh ended the half strongly.

Posh were forced into a change three minutes into the second half as Mason-Clark limped out of the action to be replaced by Ricky-Jade Jones. Charlie Savage was cautioned for a foul on Poku on 52 minutes as the former Colchester man tried to turn his man on the half-way line.

Jones produced another fine stop from Bouzanis on 58 minutes, the gloveman getting a strong hand to beat away his curling effort.  The Royals made a double change on the hour mark with Lewis Wing and Amadou Mbengue introduced into the action.

Guinnses-Walker was cautioned for a trip on after an excellent turn by the touchline. Edwards was next in the book for a foul on Knibbs. On 72 minutes, Holmes went into the book for a tackle from behind on Jones by the half-way line.

Collins fired just wide of the target on 75 minutes after Jones and Randall did superbly well to create a shooting chance for the former Exeter City man. Kyprianou was cautioned for delaying the re-start on 85 minutes as Reading began to up the tempo.

Eight minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official, a sheer example of every stoppage counting in terms of what is indicated. Burrows lashed a shot wide of the target from 30-yards three minutes into added time.

Manager Darren Ferguson was booked deep into stoppage time, presumably for dissent, but it could be down to the amount of people within the technical area. Jones saw an effort cleared off the line by McIntyre deep into stoppage time.

Jones was the next man to go into the book for simulation before the referee brought an end to proceedings.

Reading: Bouzants, Holmes, McIntyre, Knibbs (sub Camara 77min), Savage, Carroll, Azeez (sub Vickers 78min)  Ehibhailomhan (sub Mbengue 60min), Yiadom (sub Wing 60min), Guniness-Walker, Hutchinson (sub Rushesha 70min). Unused subs: Boyce-Clarke, Carson.

Posh: Bilokapic, Burrows, Edwards, Crichlow, Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark (sub Jones 48min), Poku (sub Fuchs 87min), Randall (sub Ajiboye 84min), Kyprianou, Collins, Kioso. Unused subs: Blackmore, Knight, Tshimanga, Tomlinson.

Half-time: Reading 0-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Reading 0-1 Peterborough United
Referee: Simon Mather