Peterborough United man-of-the-match on the importance of player bonding for a team on the up
Man-of-the-match Ben Woods is adamant close bonds formed off the pitch have been a big factor in the recent Peterborough United resurgence.
The 23 year-old midfielder claimed his first goal for Posh in the Thursday night 3-0 League One win over Stockport County at a freezing, snowy and wet Weston Homes Stadium.
Woods also walked away with the Sky Sports and Posh match sponsor man-of-the-match awards to confirm the big impact the summer signing from Accrington Stanley is now making.
He was presented with the TV award by teammate, and good friend, Jimmy-Jay Morgan. His other big buddy Harry Leonard set up the Woods goal.
"I’m buzzing to get off the mark,” Woods told the Posh Plus service. “It's about time and to beat the team who were top of the league so convincingly shows what a good team we are when we are on it. We’ve known it since the start of the season and now we are starting to show it.
"Harry Leonard was very unselfish to set me up when he could have shot. He made it easy for me and I knew it was in as soon as I hit it.
"I get on well with Harry and JJ and we are are always doing stuff together. We go fishing together. We are three lads of a similar age living away from home so we keep each other busy. These bonds are important off the pitch as it helps us when we are playing. We play close together in matches and we have a good understanding with each other.
"I could have scored a couple more. The goalkeeper passed it to me at one point and then for Brandon Khela’s goal I probably should have scored instead, but I took a touch and ended up tackle-shooting the ball straight to Brandon who finished it really well.
"It’s good to know we have so many players capable of scoring and it was good to see us battle through some tough conditions. It felt like I was back up North with the cold and snow, but the substitutes all brought good energy and fresh legs to the game and helped us get up the pitch to see the game out.
"If we keep this up, the only way is up.”
Posh will watch the rest of this week’s scheduled League One matches play out on Saturday before returning to action at home to Stevenage on Tuesday (November 25, 7.45pm kick off).