Frustration for Peterborough United against stubborn opponents in a game which turned on two penalty shouts

A stubborn and very well organised Stevenage side won 1-0 to move to the top of the table, while Posh must spend a few more days in the relegation zone, where they have resided all season.

It was ultimately a tale of two penalties with the visitors scoring the only goal of the game from the spot on 21 minutes. That was after an obvious handball offence by Tom O’Connor, but no more obvious than the one Stevenage midfielder Dan Phillips got away with on the hour mark.

It was that sort of night. Referee Ed Duckworth was hopeless. He indulged some rather obvious time-wasting from the visitors, at no point even asking them to hurry along.

Posh were poor though. They played with no tempo throughout and failed to test visiting goalkeeper Filip Marschall with anything difficult in 90 minutes. There was no precision to their passing with many attempts underhit and thus intercepted by opponents who often seemed a yard sharper despite Posh having an extra two days of rest and preparation.

Posh named an unchanged starting line-up after an impressive win over Stockport County last time out meaning they had the luxury of Kiwi international midfielder Matt Garbett on the substitutes’ bench. Just to emphasise the attacking nature of a new boss, Posh named just one defensive outfield substitute.

Stevenage were without suspended skipper Carl Piergianni and replaced him with another Posh old boy Lewis Freestone. Northern Ireland international striker Jamie Reid was back to lead the forward line. The visitors played with wing-backs for the first time this season.

It might have been a surprise at the Stevenage system, but Posh didn’t play at all in the first-half. Midfield areas were blocked off so Posh were forced out wide, but balls played to the feet of wingers were picked off. There was no urgency and very little idea from the home side. They had two shots in the first-half, both from Ben Woods who saw a second minute free kick blocked by a defensive wall and an injury time effort fly wide after he slipped in the act of shooting.

The visitors were no better on the ball. They were excellent at close marking and interceptions though, plus they carried a set-piece threat and that’s how they took the lead.

A deep free kick was met by Charlie Goode whose header hit the outstretched arm of Tom O’Connor for the most obvious of penalties. Reid sent Posh ‘keeper Alex Bass the wrong way from the penalty spot and celebrated with a knee slide, probably as it was his first goal since August.

And that was pretty much that in a game of little quality and far too many stoppages and delayed restarts.

Posh were denied their best chance of an equaliser at a time when they had exerted some set piece pressure when Phillips appeared to carry the ball with his arms for a second, but Duckworth, who has been in the Championship of late, was unmoved as he was when refusing to administer obvious cautions for cynical fouls, preferring to book Posh players for dissent.

Posh wasted a few good crossing chances, but also took on too many difficult shots from distance. Only Garbett managed to force a save, but it was an easy one.

Seven minutes were added at the end – it should have been more – but Posh were kept comfortably at arm’s length. They get another chance to get out of the drop zone at Doncaster on Saturday.

Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills, Tom O’Connor, Tom Lees, Peter Kioso, Ben Woods, Archie Collins (sub Declan Frith, 74 mins), Kyrell Lisbie (sub Gustav Lindgren, 74 mins) Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Abraham Odoh (sub Brandon Khela 62 mins), Harry Leonard (sub Matt Garbett, 62 mins).

Unused subs: Vicente Reyes, Carl Johnston, Donay O’Brien-Brady.

Stevenage: Filip Marschall, Dan Butler, Charlie Goode, Harvey White (sub Louis Thompson, 73 mins), Luther James-Wildin, Lewis Freestone, Dan Sweeney, Dan Phillips, Dan Kemp (sub Jasper Patterson, 84 mins), Jamie Reid (sub Chem Campbell, 83 mins), Gassan Ahadme (sub Bez Lubala, 73 mins).

Unused subs: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Jovan Malcolm, Phoenix Patterson.

GOAL: Stevenage – Reid (pen, 21 mins).

CAUTIONS: Posh – O’Connor (dissent), Garbett (dissent).

Stevenage – Kemp (foul), Reid (foul).

REFEREE: Ed Duckworth 4.

ATTENDANCE: 6,840 (511 Stevenage).