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).
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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.