Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jack Taylor and Joe Ward were all on target as Posh eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Lincoln City.
Peterborough United made it back to back wins on the road as Darren Ferguson’s men ended Lincoln City’s unbeaten home record with a comfortable 3-0 victory at the LNER Stadium and while rail strikes prevented some fans from travelling, the signal of intent was present from Posh as they kept up the pressure on the teams above them in the league table.
After half-hearted appeals for a Posh spot-kick as Ephron Mason-Clark went down in the area, it was the hosts who had the first effort towards goal, Lasse Sorensen hooking a volley over the top following a bouncing free-kick.
The home side were a whisker away from the breakthrough on 19 minutes as Matty Virtue exchanged passes with Ben House and unleashed a fierce drive from distance, which flashed just wide of the post.
Mandroiu was cautioned for a late foul on Nathan Thompson moments later by referee Rob Lewis. The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes, Nathanael Ogbeta got advanced down the left-hand side, his cross took a deflection, Harrison Burrows intelligently ducked under the ball and Jonson CLARKE-HARRIS was there to send a crisp, rasping half-volley past Rushworth and into the back of the net.
Darren Ferguson’s men should have been 2-0 up on 34 minutes as Ward delivered a ball into the centre into space, affording Clarke-Harris almost a free shot at goal, but he side-footed wide of the near post.
The Imps were forced into a change on 37 minutes with Ethan Erhahon limping out of the action to be replaced by on-loan Crystal Palace front man Luke Plange. Four minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official at the conclusion of the first 45 minutes, but Posh winger Joe Ward was down requiring treatment for a number of minutes so that was extended.
Jack Diamond poked a volley wide of the target from a Plange centre a couple of minutes into stoppage time and Mason-Clark did get the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag was raised to rule it out after good initial work from Clarke-Harris.
Burrows was cautioned on 52 minutes for a foul as he tried to retreat as the hosts countered at pace from a Posh attack. Mandroiu took the resulting free-kick, but curled his effort wide of the near post. Rushworth was well placed to deny Burrows at the other end after good work from Mason-Clark, but it was routine in truth for the keeper.
Posh were a whisker away from a fine second on 57 minutes as Burrows picked out Ward 30-yards from goal, he took a touch and his volley smacked against the post. O’Connor went into the book moments later for a foul on Ward.
Both managers were shown a yellow card, presumably for dissent as the hour mark was reached at the LNER Stadium. Posh doubled the lead on 67 minutes as Jack TAYLOR burst into the box and his cross-shot took a nick off a defender and found the back of the net.
Norburn was cautioned for a foul on 72 minutes and from the resulting free-kick, Bishop’s free-kick was deflected wide of the target. Norris did well to hold an acrobatic over head kick from Montsma on 75 minutes with Posh making a double change shortly afterwards as Hector Kyprianou and Ben Thompson introduced.
Moments later, Kwame Poku replaced Mason-Clark as the game moved towards the final 10 minutes. Posh made it 3-0 on 83 minutes and it was Joe WARD who coolly dispatched past Rushworth after good work from substitute Kwame Poku.
Kyprianou fired over the top from distance on 84 minutes as Posh threatened a fourth goal. Even the fourth official provided a smile at the end as he indicated six minutes of added time, a nod even if not intended to the last time a side scored three goals in a fixture between the two sides.
Lincoln: Rushworth, Montsma, Jackson, Erhahon (sub Plange 39min), O’Connor, House, Mandroiu, Sorensen (sub Sanders 80min), Roughan, Virtue (sub Bishop 64min), Diamond (sub Makama 80min). Unused subs: Wright, Boyes, Duffy.
Posh: Norris, N. Thompson, Kent, Edwards, Ogbeta, Norburn (sub B. Thompson 76min), Taylor, Burrows (sub Kyprianou 76min), Mason-Clark (sub Poku 77min), Clarke-Harris, Ward (sub Knight 90min). Unused subs: Blackmore, Randall, Tshimanga.
Half-time: Lincoln City 0-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Lincoln City 0-3 Peterborough United
Attendance: 9,530 (1,566 Posh fans)
Referee: Rob Lewis