MATCH REPORT: Boreham Wood 0, Posh 1: That winning feeling is back

Even scrappy successes in less than entralling contests against lower class opposition are worth celebrating. Ask the Welsh. They’d probably have organised a concert and an open-top bus tour if they’d won 1-0 at Boreham Wood as Posh did tonight (July 11).

But Posh boss Grant McCann is a different character. In some ways he’s the ideal antidote to his chairman’s bubbly optimism and Twitter soundbites. ‘It was another good workout,” was as excited as McCann got after a penalty two minutes after the break from Marcus Maddison delivered a win against National League opposition.

Darragh MacAnthony watched the game live in the USA - you can’t fault his dedication to the cause - and jokingly, one presumes, was seen to moan about the lack of goalsy. The news that striker Lee Angol faces a long absence with an ankle injury wasn’t great news in that respect.

Posh played well enough at New Meadow Park and came close to scoring several times from open play. Star of the past Paul Taylor started the game (his love of a dribble and long-range shooting has clearly not diminished in his time away from London Road), but namesake Jon Taylor was the man who came close to scoring in the opening exchanges, flashing a shot just wide after a well-worked corner.

Otherwise in the first-half Posh were restricted to long shots, while comfortably keeping the home side’s honest toilers at bay at the other end.

Captain Chris Forrester was denied a penalty on the half hour after appearing to be clipped, but two minutes into the second-half Brad Inman was clearly upended in the area enabling Maddison to convert with ease from the spot.

Inman and Maddison then combined to create a chance for Callum Chettle which was spurned, before Joe Gormley missed the target when well placed following great skill from Maddison.

Boreham Wood rallied from the midway point in the second half, but Posh ‘keeper Dion-Curtis Henry made a couple of fine stops, particularly from Ricky Shakes, who also hit a post a couple of minutes later.

Jack Baldwin was also required to make a fine goal-saving block in the latter stages before Posh could record their first win of the summer.

Sixteen year-old left back Lewis Freestone again impressed and his late pass set up a chance for Shaquile Coulthirst which was missed.

Next up is Championship side Norwich City in a two-hour game of four 30-minute quarters at the ABAX Stadium (July 16, 3pm).

Posh (first-half): Alnwick, White, Hughes, Da Silva Lopes, Tafazolli, Santos, J. Taylor, Forrester, Nichols, P. Taylor, Williams.

Posh (second half): Henry, Beautyman, Baldwin, Bostwick, Freestone, Nabi, Chettle, Inman, Maddison, Coulthirst, Gormley.

Boreham Wood: Smith, Nunn, Woodards, Ricketts, Stephens, Devera, Moke, Davis, Ferrier, Shakes, Andrade. Subs used: Beasent, Paine, Clifford, Uchechi, Goodliffe, Daniels, Roberts.

Goal: Posh - Maddison (47 mins).

Referee: J Kye

Attendance: Unkinown