Posh Ease To Derby Success
The assist king, Marcus Maddison, was at it again as he created two goals as Peterborough United eased to an emphatic 3-0 local derby success over Northampton Town at the ABAX Stadium.Maddison delivered two corner kicks which were dispatched by Shaquile Coulthirst and Town centre back Zander Diamond before striker Tom Nichols ended his goal drought with a polished finish from a wonderful Gwion Edwards cross.
Skipper Chris Forrester tested goalkeeper with a curling effort inside the opening few minutes as Grant McCann's men made a lively start in difficult conditions.
The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes as a superb Maddison corner was powered home with his head at the near post by Shaquile COULTHIRST who managed to get away from his man find the back of the net.
Taylor saw a shot blocked after he linkd well with Coulthirst following a long ball forward. The lead was doubled on 37 minutes as a superb corner from Maddison was met by Town centre back Zander Diamond, who could only divert the ball into the back of the net under pressure from Tafazolli.
McGee did well to hold onto a deflected Hoskins effort on 40 minutes as Bostwick failed to clear on the edge of the box. Zakuani glanced a header wide of the target on 42 minutes after a deep corner kick from the left.
Posh were dealt a blow just ahead of the half-time whistle with Coulthirst sustaining an injury. Tom Nichols replaced Coulthirst as the fixture went into two minutes of added time at the end of the first period.
Northampton made a change at the interval with John-Joe O'Toole replacing Joel Byrom.
Taylor was somehow denied by the legs of goalkeeper Smith on 47 minutes before Bostwick looped a header from the resulting corner kick over the crossbar.
Taylor was denied again by a superb Maloney block moments later after being fed by Maddison who saw the rebound well held by Smith who was increasingly overworked.
McGee did well to hold a stinging drive from Hoskins on 54 minutes as the Cobblers, with the wind at their backs, piled on a bit of pressure.
Rob Page made an attacking change on the hour mark with striker JJ Hooper replacing defender Lewin Nyatanga.
Town had appeals for a spot-kick turned down as handball claims were made before McGee turned aside a Richards effort at the near post.
Maddison intercepted a crossfield pass on 67 minutes and ran at Zakuani, but after cutting inside, his curler was fairly routine in the end for keeper Smith.
Maddison fired over the bar after cutting inside from the left on 71 minutes after a thunderous tackle from Bostwick on the halfway line.
O'Toole went into the book for a hefty challenge on Bostwick on 76 minutes. McCann made his second change on 76 minutes with Gwion Edwards replacing Taylor.
Posh made it 3-0 on 82 minutes and what a wonderful goal it was too, substitute Edwards with a wonderful run and delivery into the path of NICHOLS who cushioned a wonderful volley past Smith.
Posh: McGee, Smith, Hughes, Tafazolli, Baldwin, Bostwick, Forrester, Da Silva Lopes (sub Chettle 83min), Maddison, Coulthirst (sub Nichols 44min), Taylor (sub Edwards 76min). Unused subs: Tyler, White, Oduwa, Moncur.
Northampton: Smith, Maloney, Buchanan, Anderson, Diamond, Zakuani, Byrom (sub O'Toole 46min), Richards, Revell, Hoskins, Nyatanga (sub Hooper 59min). Unused subs: Cornell, Gorre, Potter, Beautyman, Phillips.
Half-time: Peterborough United 2-0 Northampton Town
Full-time: Peterborough United 3-0 Northampton Town
Attendance: 9,157 (2,172 Northampton fans)