REPORT: OXFORD UNITED 1, PETERBOROUGH UNITED 2: In-form pair see Posh through to the second round

Peterborough United eased through to the second round of the FA Cup as goals from in-form pair Siriki Dembele and Jack Taylor secured a 2-1 win over League One rivals Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium today (November 7)..
Louis Reed of Peterborough United in action with Matty Taylor of Oxford United. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Louis Reed of Peterborough United in action with Matty Taylor of Oxford United. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Louis Reed of Peterborough United in action with Matty Taylor of Oxford United. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Dembele opened the scoring midway through the first-half with a cool finish that prompted home manager Karl Robinson to lose his temper.

Oxford equalised in first-half added time, but it was Taylor won the game by converting his third goal in three matches just past the hour mark.

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Posh lost stand-in skipper Nathan Thompson to injury before the break, but 17 year-old Ronnie Edwards starred in an excellent second-half defensive display.

As expected Posh boss Darren Ferguson made multiple changes, six in fact with Frazer Blake-Tracy, Niall Mason, Louis Reed, Mo Eisa and Ryan Broom all called-up.

Dembele was a surprise starter.

Oxford made five changes with James Henry a notable absentee.

Not surprisingly the first-half was a disjointed affair with multiple free kicks.

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Posh started brightly with Eisa’s cross almost turned into his own net by Sam Long in the second minute. Taylor also saw a powerful strike deflected over the crossbar before Eisa curled just wide from the corner of the penalty area.

Oxford should have scored from their first sight of goal in the 15th minute. Posh ‘keeper Christy Pym did well to beat out a fierce 20-yard strike from Mark Sykes, but Rob Hall pounced on the rebound only to shoot over the crossbar.

Winger Olamide Shadipo was a threat and nutmegged Blake-Tracy before falling to ground. No penalty said rookie referee Benjamin Speedie and within seconds Posh had taken the lead.

Dembele was casually strolling back towards an onside position when Josh Ruffels miscontrolled a Reed pass giving the Posh forward a free run on goal which he didn’t waste. Home boss Robinson was so incensed he was cautioned by Speedie for raging at the fourth official.

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Robinson would have been pleased with his side’s response though as they started to dominate the contest.

Shodipo was a constant threat and curled one shot before hitting another straight at Pym.

Oxford’s equalised in first-half added time as a free kick from out wide wasn’t well defended by a reshuffled defence leaving Ruffels an easy opportunity to atone for his earlier error.

But Posh played strongly after the break after Ferguson switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

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Taylor saw a fierce 25 yard shot well saved by Jack Stevens before Mason and Frankie Kent shot wide.

Taylor then took advantage of a some good work from Reed to squeeze a left foot shot into the corner of the net from 12 yards in the 62nd minute and Posh were prety comfortable after that until Pym was forced to make a super save from another Shadipo strike.

Pym then fell on a 25 yard free kick Anthony Forde free kick just before the final whistle.

Shadipo is on loan from QPR and looks a rare talent, although he blotted his copybook with a caution for diving.

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Posh: Christy Pym: Nathan Thompson (sub Ronnie Edwards, 43 mins), Frazer Blake-Tracy, Frankie Kent, Niall Mason: Jack Taylor, Louis Reed (sub Reece Brown, 87 mins), Ethan Hamilton (sub Jonson Clarke-Harris, 74 mins), Siriki Dembele, Mo Eisa, Ryan Broom.

Unused substitutes: Sammie Szmodics, Harrison Burrows, Dan Gyollai, Idris Kanu.

Oxford: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Rob Hall (sub Joel Cooper, 74 mins), Anthony Forde, Liam Kelly, Marcus McGuane (sub Dylan Asonganyi, 86 mins), Mark Sykes, Matty Taylor (sub Sam Winnall, 65 mins), Olamide Shadipo.

Unused subs: Simon Eastwood, Michael Elechi, Nico Jones, Derick Osei-Yaw.

Goals: Posh - Dembele (22 mins), Taylor (62 mins),

Oxford - Ruffels (45 + 1 min).

Cautions: Oxford - Robinson (manager, dissent), Shadipo (simulation).

Referee: Benjamin Speedie 6