Scunthorpe 0, Peterborough United 2: Godden at the double against his old club as Posh's brilliant away form continues

Peterborough United striker Matt Godden scored twice against his first professional club to make it six wins in seven unbeaten away League One games at Scunthorpe today (October 13).
Posh striker Matt Godden scores his second goal at Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Posh striker Matt Godden scores his second goal at Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Posh striker Matt Godden scores his second goal at Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

After a poor first-half display, Posh dominated the second-half to claim a first success in four League One matches. Godden struck twice in seven minutes to seal the win and take his goals tally for the season to 11, while an under-fire defence battled hard to claim just a second clean sheet of the season against a free-scoring home side.

Indeed given the recent record of both teams goals galore were expected, but a strong wind didn’t help attempts at playing attractive football, and chances were limited in the first-half.

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The best all fell to Scunthorpe who started to pick holes in the Posh back four the longer the half went on. Stephen Humphrys beat an offside trap, but lobbed the ball wide of the post on 25 minutes and under 10 minutes later the wind defeated Posh ‘keeper Aaron Chapman enabling home left back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to beat him to the ball, but head wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Posh striker Jason Cummings in action at Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Posh striker Jason Cummings in action at Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Posh striker Jason Cummings in action at Scunthorpe. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Chapman’s momentum took him into the Scunthorpe player and the home players howled, with good reason, for a spot-kick which wasn’t given.

Humphrys also found space in the penalty area, but took so long to shoot he was crowded out by recovering defenders before Ryan Colclough started to test the defensive capabilities of Posh left-back Colin Daniel.

Twice Colclough cut inside and shot wide and he also tested the Posh defence with a couple of low crosses, one that was returned straight to him by Ryan Tafazolli, forcing Chapman to save the follow-up.

Another Colclough cross was headed over by Josh Morris.

Alex Woodyard of Peterborough United keeps his eye on the ball with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson of Scunthorpe United. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Alex Woodyard of Peterborough United keeps his eye on the ball with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson of Scunthorpe United. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Alex Woodyard of Peterborough United keeps his eye on the ball with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson of Scunthorpe United. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
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Posh, who reverted to the side that played unchanged for the opening six League One matches, rarely threatened. Tafazolli headed a Joe Ward cross over the bar, but a fancy flick from Jason Cummings from a Jason Naismith cross lacked the pace or the accuracy to beat home ‘keeper Jak Alnwick.

Morris came close to scoring right at the start of the second half after a short corner hurt Posh, but he pulled his shot wide.

Chapman then spilled a Funso Ojo shot from 30 yards, but the ball rebounded to safety and within a minute Posh had taken the led as Siriki Dembele and Daniel combined well down the left before the latter crossed perfectly for Godden to slide the ball home against his first professional club.

Colclough was soon back on the attack again, skipping past a couple of weak challenges before finding the sidenetting and again Posh were quick to punish.

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Godden chased well down the left wing, gathered, cut inside and hit a shot that Alnwick should have saved, but instead allowed to slither past him into the corner of the net for a second goal in seven minutes.

Ivan Toney was sent on for Cummings, who didn’t take kindly to his substitution, and his physical strength came in handy. He sent Ward scuttling towards goal 20 minutes from time, but the Posh man went too wide before shooting across goal and wide.

Posh entered cruise control from then on as Scunthorpe’s threat disappeared. The home side sent on a big centre-back for Humphrys for the final stages just to emphasise how they had run out of ideas.

Posh; Aaron Chapman, Jason Naismith, Colin Daniel, Rhys Bennett, Ryan Tafazolli, Alex Woodyard, Mark O’Hara, Joe Ward, Siriki Dembele, Matt Godden (sub Jamie Walker, 90 + 6 mins), Jason Cummings (sub Ivan Toney, 64 mins).

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Unused substitutes: Mark Tyler, Tyler Denton, Louis Reed, Callum Cooke.

Scunthorpe: Jak Alnwick, Jordan Clarke, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Charlie Goode, Rory McArdle, Funso Ojo, Matthew Lund (sub Andy Dales, 58 mins), Josh Morris (sub James Perch, 70 mins), Ryan Colclough, Lee Novak, Stephen Humphrys (sub Cameron Burgess, 82 mins)..

Unused substitutes: Jon Flatt, James Horsfield, Clayton Lewis, Levi Sutton.

Goals: Posh - Godden (51 mins & 57 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Daniel (delaying the restart). Toney (foul), O’Hara (foul).

Referee: Rob Lewis 7.

Attendance: 4,566 (746 Posh).