Conor Washington provided the punch on Boxing Day as Posh beat Chesterfield 2-0.
Peterborough United recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Chesterfield with striker Conor Washington bagging a brace on an afternoon where the hosts created a hat-full of chances.Manager Graham Westley sprung a selection surprise by naming Marcus Maddison at left-back in the absence of Callum Elder but it was from a more advanced position that the former Gateshead man made his first impact, his curler smacking the crossbar from fully 30-yards.
Goalkeeper Tommy Lee made his first save on 12 minutes, denying Conor Washington by his near post after a glorious pass forward from Almeida Santos.
Souleymane Coulibaly, celebrating his birthday, fired wide of Lee's left-hand post moments later after a good pick out by Smith following an initial switch of play by Washington.
Ben Alnwick made his first save of the game on 21 minutes as he denied Banks although in truth his header was very comfortable for the custodian.
Alnwick was called upon again on 24 minutes to deny the experienced Ebanks-Blake as he found space, however within 60 seconds, it was Posh ruing a miss, Coulibaly collecting a diagonal pass, he twisted and turned onto his right-foot, but dragged his shot wide of the near post.
A Maddison corner kick was headed wide by Washington on the half hour mark as Posh continued to create opportunities without finding that elusive first goal.
Beautyman fired over from 25-yards after a good move involving Maddison and Oztumer as the first half entered the final 10 minutes. On 38 minutes, Lee produced the game's first real quality save as he produced a fine one-handed stop to deny Washington's poked finish.
Maddison was next to try his luck after a good throw out by Alnwick, but after galloping half the length of the field, he couldn't keep his shot down, the effort clearing the upright.
On the stroke of half-time, a defence splitting pass from Oztumer picked out Coulibaly, but he took a heavy touch and goalkeeper Lee was able to smother.
As the game moved into one minute of added time, Posh got themselves ahead as a superb cross from Marcus Maddison was glanced home by Conor WASHINGTON from six-yards.
Chesterfield made a double change at the interval with Lee Novak and Richard Wood introduced. Lee produced a stunning save to deny Oztumer's powerful left-footed effort moments after the re-start before Taylor saw a low effort saved after a weaving run.
Another superb delivery from Maddison picked out Coulibaly on 49 minutes, but again the striker couldn't divert his effort goal-wards, the volley going well wide.
Coulibaly fired wide from 25-yards and then repeated the feat moments later as Posh pressed for the second goal.
Posh made a double change on 69 minutes with Lee Angol and Martin Samuelsen introduced in place of Oztumer and Coulibaly.
Taylor fired over the crossbar on 71 minutes after a forceful run, but Posh had been guilty of too much of that in this encounter, not testing Lee enough.
Beautyman had the ball in the back of the net after sliding a low centre into the back of the net, but the assistant referee's raised flag cut short the celebrations.
The lead was doubled on 75 minutes as substitute Martin Samuelsen picked out WASHINGTON with a clever pass and the top scorer did the rest, rifling the ball past Lee and into the back of the net.
Taylor fired over with his left-foot after an unlikely counter attack started by Almeida Santos as Posh went in search of a third.
Maddison blotted an otherwise excellent copybook with a late booking but he still was quite rightly awarded the sponsors Man of the Match award. Lee denied Samuelsen a first goal in professional football deep in stoppage time with a fine sprawling stop.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Taylor, Bostwick, Oztumer (sub Samuelsen 69min), Maddison, Almeida Santos, Washington, Beautyman (sub Baldwin 78min), Coulibaly (sub Angol 69min), Forrester. Unused subs: Henry, Fox, Addison, Nicholson.
Chesterfield: Lee, Hird, Evatt, Gardner (sub Simons 64min), Ebanks-Blake, O'Shea, O'Neil, Raglan (sub Novak 46min), Donohue, Banks, Daly (sub Wood 46min). Unused subs: Cairns, Herd, Diesurevwe, Ariyibi.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1-0 Chesterfield
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-0 Chesterfield
Attendance: 7,153 (526 Chesterfield fans)