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Posh have beauty and a beast - Posh 1, Barnet 0
If George Boyd is the white Pele, Liam Hatch is the white Emile Heskey. Finesse and touch aren't too near the top of his list of attributes, but aggression and honest endeavour are pretty much guaranteed.
If George Boyd is the white Pele, Liam Hatch is the white Emile Heskey. Finesse and touch aren't too near the top of his list of attributes, but aggression and honest endeavour are pretty much guaranteed.Match facts:
Posh 1, Barnet 0
Posh - Hatch (73 mins).
Referee: K. Evans (Manchester) 6
Attendance: 5,520.
Yellow cards: Posh - Hatch (foul).
Barnet - Puncheon (foul),
Bishop (foul).
------------------
And thank goodness for that as Posh spent over an hour passing their way into cul-de-sacs until Hatch was unleashed against his former club.
Barnet's game-plan had been to frustrate and thwart using a line-up which appeared at times to contain nine defensive players. It was so successful visiting goalkeeper Rob Beckwith had only needed to turn an accurate Dean Keates header around a post despite Posh virtually setting up camp in his half.
Clearly something brilliant or fortunate was required to stop successive goalless draws at London Road and Hatch provided both. His skilful exchange of passes with Aaron Mclean 17 minutes from time was followed by a 20-yard thunderbolt which took a wicked deflection off a defender before locating the back of the net.
Hatch promptly set off in the direction of Fletton High Street before grateful and relieved team-mates pounced in celebration. It would take a brave man to deny a striker who had spent less time on the pitch than Keith Oakes in the last six weeks his first Posh goal, although peeved Barnet boss Paul Fairclough tried his best.
"A clear own goal," he announced, which might also be the best description of his decision to replace Hatch with Histon striker Cliff Akurang, a man whose first touch was usually his last.
Akurang's inability to hold the ball up, and the fact that he had no help at all from misfiring Barnet star Jason Puncheon, made it easy for Posh to dominate possession. It was far, far harder however to put it to any use.
Barnet flooded midfield and displayed a discipline and work ethic which tested the patience of the Posh players and their fans. Two gifted centre-backs with pace also added to the frustration.
Charlie Lee and Mclean resorted to long shots to try and break the deadlock, while Craig Mackail-Smith stumbled in the act of shooting midway through the first half enabling Max Porter to scuttle back and clear off the line.
Posh improved slightly after the break as Jamie Day joined in a couple of times to decent effect.Mclean saw one header expertly headed over his own bar by Ismail Yakubu before Keates had his near-miss, but, to the surprise of everyone, it was Barnet who promptly created the best opportunity.
A few slick passes saw Kieron St Aime find the time and space in the Posh penalty area to threaten a goal, but his firm, accurate shot was splendidly blocked by goalkeeper Joe Lewis, who in the space of a eight days has proved he is a worthy successor to a legend of 13 years, Mark Tyler.
Five minutes later and Posh were in front and they were soon close to extending their lead as Mclean outjumped Beckwith only for Yakubu to race back and clear off the line.
Barnet did inevitably throw men forward in the final 10 minutes, but this is a far superior defensive unit than the one on display before Christmas and a couple of dangerous set-pieces were comfortably repelled.
Posh appear to be gathering momentum at an important time and with some senior players due back in the next fortnight, cautious optimism is the order of the day.
Certainly with talents like Boyd in the side, any game is winnable. The Posh management deserve credit for creating a system which allows Boyd the freedom to roam the pitch and some of his close control and touches under the severest of pressure was a joy to behold.
Boyd offers the beauty to Hatch's beast, but both will have a key role to play in the next three months.
Players ratings:
Joe Lewis
An excellent stop at 0-0 and punched well 7
Adam Newton
Recovered from tentative start to play strongly after the break 6
Jamie Day
Shook up his defensive shackles after the break to deliver a couple of fine crosses 6
Craig Morgan
Not at his best in possession, but untroubled defensively 6
Chris Westwood
He's become a key player in this side, brilliant positional sense 7
Chris Whelpdale
Never looked comfortable after break from action, plugged away though 5
Dean Keates
Delivers some tigerish tackles, little creativity and some ordinary set pieces 5
George Boyd
Always likeliest to create something, even though often marked by three 8
Aaron Mclean
Two headers cleared off the line and helped create the goal 7
Craig Mackail-Smith
Had one of those days when little went right 5
Substitutes:
Liam Hatch: (for Whelpdale, 64 mins).
Scott Mitchell: (for Mackail-Smith, 80 mins).
Alfie Potter: (not used).
James McKeown: (not used).
Daniel Blanchett: (not used).
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