Live: FULL-TIME: ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2, PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0: Two great goals ensure Posh start with a disappointing defeat.

Peterborough United’s ‘Vengeance Tour’ started in dismal fashion as they lost to two wonderful goals at Accrington Stanley today (September 12).
Christy Pym of Peterborough United cuts a dejected figure after Accrington Stanley score the opening goal of the game. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Christy Pym of Peterborough United cuts a dejected figure after Accrington Stanley score the opening goal of the game. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Christy Pym of Peterborough United cuts a dejected figure after Accrington Stanley score the opening goal of the game. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

A stunning volley from Dion Charles in first-half injury time was followed by a curling effort from gifted Chelsea loanee Tarqi Uwakwe six minutes from time.

Posh were listless in the first period and, although they upped their tempo after the break, they couldn’t sustain pressure on the home goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jonson Clarke-Harris struck the crossbar direct from a 20 yard free kick, but Posh created no clearcut chances. They badly missed Siriki Dembele who was a surprise absentee.

Sammie Szmodics leads the Posh warm-up at Accrington Stanley. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Sammie Szmodics leads the Posh warm-up at Accrington Stanley. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Sammie Szmodics leads the Posh warm-up at Accrington Stanley. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

The first-half was a poor affair right up until the 46th minute.

Nathan Thompson looked to have cleared the danger when heading Seamus Conneely’s cross out of the penalty area, but Charles leathered a superb left-volley past a shocked Christy Pym.

Posh had started to get on top when they conceded. Thompson’s fine run and pass freed Sammie Szmodics into the penalty area, but he couldn’t hit the target and Clarke-Harris headed Jack Taylor’s cross over the bar from a difficult angle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Posh had several set-pieces in dangerous areas, but the delivery was too poor to trouble the Accrington defence. Goalkeeper Toby Savin was called into action just once and that was to make an easy save after 15 minutes from Dan Butler’s half-blocked shot.

Indeed Accrington also could have scored 10 minutes before the break when Matt Butcher struck the outside of the post with a volley when clean through.

Clarke-Harris started the game alongside Mo Eisa but the forwards were poorly served by their teammates. A shame as Posh still fielded three attacking players who cost over £3 million between them.

Posh improved markedly after the break as they began to master a poor pitch that hadn’t been played on for six months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Szmodics started to see the ball and saw one raking shot deflected wide before he fed Eisa whose shot was saved by Tobin.

Thompson was next to threaten with a rampaging run forward that was ended illegally on the edge of the home area by Sykes who was perhaps fortunate to pick up a yellow rather than red card.

To rub salt into Posh wounds Clarke-Harris rattled the crossbar from the free kick.

Beevers then nodded a corner just wide as Posh continued to press.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Posh fizzled out disappointingly and the home side came close from two corners before sealing victory with another cracking strike from Uwakwe who was given all the time he wanted to curl past Pym from the edge of the area.

Clarke-Harris could have pulled a goal back in the final seconds, but muffed his shot after substitute Niall mason had head the ball into his path six yards from goal.

Posh: Christy Pym, Nathan Thompson (sub Niall Mason, 90 + 4 mins), Mark Beevers, Frankie Kent, Joe Ward (sub, Flynn Clarke, 80 mins), Dan Butler, Jack Taylor, Ethan Hamilton (sub Ryan Broom, 82 mins), Sammie Szmodics, Mo Eisa, Jonson Clarke-Harris. Unused subs: Louis Reed,Harrison Burrows, Dan Gyollai, Serhat Tasdemir,

Accrington: Toby Savin, Mark Hughes, Cameron Burgess, Ross Sykes, Matt Butcher, Ryan Cassidy (sub Colby Bishop, 76 mins), Joe Pritchard, Tariq Uwakwe, Mo Sangare (sub Ben Barclay, 83 mins), Seamus Conneely (sub Stephen Sama, 74 mins), Dion Charles. Unused subs: Liam Isherwood, Tom Allan, Joe Maguire, Tom Scully.

Goals: Accrington - Charles (45 + 1 min), Ukakwe (86 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Thompson (deliberate handball), Beevers (deliberate handball).

Accrington - Sykes (foul).

Referee: Marc Edwards 6.