REPORT: PETERBOROUGH UNITED 2, OXFORD UNITED 0: Posh complete a hat-trick of League One wins

A superb first-half lob from Joe Ward and a clinical finish from Siriki Dembele midway through the second-half secured a 2-0 win, but the visitors, not for the first time this season, were left wondering how they failed to score.

Posh ‘keeper Christy Pym continued his excellent start to the season with two fine saves at 0-0 and after the break Oxford were kept out by by stout defending and their own poor finishing.

Posh also created plenty of chances in what was a decent advert for third tier football.

Posh kept faith with the 4-2-3-1 formation that had served them well in the previous game-and-a-half, but Jack Taylor replaced Ethan Hamilton in the centre of midfield.

And Posh tarted the game brightly with Jonson Clarke-Harris twice meeting Ward crosses at the near post, only to send both efforts wide of the near post, one with his head, one with his foot.

Posh enjoyed plenty of promising moments down the right and the impressive Ward was soon driving into the penalty area and forcing visiting ‘keeper Simon Eastwood to save onto a post.

Both sides showed a keenness to pass the ball through midfield which made for an entertaining contest.

James Henry, playing his 500th career game, shot over the bar from the edge of the area as did Josh Ruffels as Oxford found their stride, helped by some poor Posh passing and decision-making in midfield.

It was end-to-end for most of the first-half with Nathan Thompson, who was otherwise excellent, missing a great close-range chance from a Dan Butler corner and Mark Sykes seeing a fierce volley well blocked at the other end. Butler also had half a chance following a fine break and a neat Sammie Szmodics’ chip.

But, once more, Pym came to the rescue to keep Posh on level terms. First he saved well with his feet to thwart Matty Taylor after Dembele’s stray pass set the visitors away.

And then Pym made an even better save from an Oxford corner, reacting superbly to kick away Dan Agyei’s close range stab at goal.

And how Oxford regretted those misses two minutes before the break when Taylor’s superb long pass found Ward the wrong side of the visiting defence. The winger delivered a cool lob over Eastwood to claim his first goal of the season.

Posh started the second-half on the offensive and Dembele was soon stinging the hands of Eastwood with a fierce 20-yard strike.

But Oxford then enjoyed a purple patch which required some desperate Posh defending to resist.

Pym handled low drives from Mark Sykes and Agyei well before a shot from Anthony Forde took a double deflection before dribbling past a post. From the corner Ruffels was given a free header six yards out, but couldn’t hit the target.

Mark Beevers then appeared to trip over his own feet, but Frankie Kent was on hand to make a terrific interception from Sykes’ cross.

And, just like in the first half, Posh punished Oxford’s generosity. Szmodics did well to win the ball high, Ward pounced, ran forward and delivered a perfect pass to Dembele who finished superbly to claim his firts goal of what could be a sensational season for him in the 63rd minute.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of Oxford and it was Posh who looked likelier to find the third goal of the match.

A long-range Dembele shot was well saved before Eastwood did well to keep out Kent’s close range header from Ward’s free kick.

Posh: Christy Pym, Dan Butler, Mark Beevers, Franke Kent, Nathan Thompson, Joe Ward, Reece Brown, Jack Taylor, Siriki Dembele (sub Ethan Hamilton, 85 mins), Sammie Szmodics (sub Ryan Broom, 78 mins), Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Unused subs: Dan Gyollai, Mo Eisa, Louis Reed, Niall Mason, Flynn Clarke

Oxford: Simon Eastwood, Sean Clare, Josh Ruffels, Elliott Moore, Matty Taylor, Mark Sykes (sub Sam Winnall, 69 mins),, Sam Long, Anthony Forde, James Henry, Dan Agyei (sub Derick Osei Yaw, 61 mins), Liam Kelly (sub Alex Gorrin, 69 mins).

Unused subs: Jack Stevens, Rob Hall, Marcus McGuane, Jamie Hanson.

Goals: Posh - Ward (43 mins), Dembele (65 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Ward - (foul), Dembele (foul), Butler (foul).

Oxford - Clare (foul), Henry (foul).

Referee: Carl Boyeson .