REPORT: Gillingham 1, Peterborough United 3: Posh go from woeful to wonderful to shoot up to second

For 45 minutes it was a typical Posh away performance at Gillingham. They were pitiful and lucky to only be a goal down to a controversial penalty converted by John Akinde.

But the introduction of Siriki Dembele at the break and a change of formation to 4-4-2 transformed the contest. Within two minutes of the re-start top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris had bundled in an equaliser and in the 51st minute a fine move enabled Dembele to shoot Posh in front with the aid of a deflection.

And on 66 minutes Posh took a firm grip on the game with a superb goal from Clarke-Harris.

Posh were brilliant after the break. Their superior skill and relentless attacking constantly ripped the home side apart. It was impressive stuff, particularly after such a dismal start.

Akinde’s theatrical dive just past the half hour after feeling his former Barnet teammmate Jack Taylor’s hands in his back was enough to persuade well positioned referee Charles Breakspear to award a penalty just past the half hour.

‘Harsh’ was the verdict from most iFollowers. ‘Ludicrous’ came the verdict from the Posh press office after they watched the incident back at the break.

Akinde, a huge man who wouldn’t look out of place in a South African rugby union pack, bravely picked himself to convert the spotkick.

Controversy aside, the hosts deserved their lead by imposing their rather primitive tactics on Posh. Press. hoof it, chase it, hurl long throws in the penalty and repeat. It shouldn’t have come as surprise to Posh who nonetheless looked hopelessy unprepared for it in a blustery wind.

Tom O’Connor and Connor Ogilvie both pounced on loose balls in the penalty area without troubling Posh ‘keeper Christy Pym and Mark Beevers had to make a couple of strong blocks and one fine tackle to keep Gills striker Vadaine Oliver at bay.

Posh offered nothing before the break apart from one fine cross from Mo Eisa that just eluded a crowded penalty area.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson resisted the temptation to recall fit-again Dembele to the starting line-up. He kept faith with the team that started the win against Ipswich last week.

But Dembele replaced Eisa at the break with devastating consequences. Two minutes after the re-start Nathan Thompson, who had switched to right-back, advanced before shooting with his left foot. Gills keeper Jack Bonham made a hash of the save and Clarke-Harris was on hand to score.

Dembele then freed Jack Taylor in the area. He played the ball back to Sammie Szmodics who laid the perfect weighted pass to Dembele. The substitute took the ball in his stride marched into the penalty and shot past Bonham with the help of a defender.

But Posh weren’t finished as Ward, who ran amok when pushed further forward for the second-half, delivered a low cross that Clarke-Haris turned home quite brilliantly.

Posh continued to carry the greater threat. Ward was given the ball at every opportunity and from one cutback, Szmodics again tested Bonham, while Clarke-Harris screwed a glorious chance wide, both following Ward crosses.

Gills boss Steve Evans rang the changes and introduced winger Jordan Thomas who gave Posh a couple of hairy moments, but once Beevers had superbly diverted a close-range header from Akinde over the bar following a Thomas free-kick four minutes from time they saw the game out comfortably.

The away form needed improvement for Posh to have any chance of promotion. Maybe Ferguson finally found the winning formula at half-time.

Posh: Christy Pym, Frankie Kent, Nathan Thompson, Mark Beevers, Joe Ward, Dan Butler, Reece Brown, Jack Taylor, Sammie Szmodics, Mo Eisa (sub Siriki Dembele, 46 mins), Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Unused substitutes: Dan Gyollai, Idris Kanu, Harrison Burrows, Ethan Hamilton, Niall Mason, Frazer Blake-Tracy.

Gillingham: Jack Bonham, Ryan Jackson, Jack Tucker, Robbie Cundy, Connor Ogilvie, Callum Slattery (sub Ron McKenzie, 73 mins), Tom O’Connor (sub, Tyreke Johnson, 63 mins), Kyle Dempsey, Olly Lee (sub Alex MacDonald, 63 mins), John Akinde, Vadaine Oliver (sub Jordan Graham 52 mins).

Unused substitutes: Sacha Bastien, Robbie McKenzie, James Morton, Stuart O’Keefe.

Goals: Posh - Clarke-Harris (47 mins & 66 mins), Dembele (51 mins).

Gills - Akinde (pen, 31 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Kent (foul), Clarke-Harris (dissent), Butler (foul).

Gills - Slattery (foul), McKenzie (foul).

Referee: Charles Breakspear 6.