Kwame Poku scored the winner as Posh secured a 2-1 victory over Exeter City at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Manager Darren Ferguson spoke before this game of the importance of result over performance and his Peterborough United side may not have sparkled for the full 90 minutes, but they got the job done as a second half strike from Kwame Poku earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Exeter City at the Weston Homes Stadium.
The Grecians actually made a bright start to the game and goalkeeper Jed Steer did well to get fingertips to a low effort from Luke Harris to push the ball around the post.
However, it was Posh who got their noses in front as a wonderful run from Malik Mothersille down the right hand side saw him glide past two defenders and force goalkeeper Sinisalo into a save, the ball rebounded to Mason-Clark, he poked the ball to Poku, the ball rolled back into the path of MASON-CLARK and despite being on the floor, he found the back of the net for his 17th goal in all competitions this season.
Will Aimson headed wide on 12 minutes for the Grecians while at the other end, Joel Randall and Hector Kyprianou both saw efforts blocked.
On 35 minutes, Exeter levelled the scores as a shot from Tom CARROLL took a wicked deflection and looped over goalkeeper Steer.
Harper fired wide on 53 minutes before Poku saw a shot blocked after a fine run. On 67 minutes, Posh re-took the lead as POKU fired low into the bottom corner with his left-foot from inside the penalty area.
Katongo saw a curling left-footed effort claimed by the Exeter goalkeeper on 75 minutes with Harrison Burrows seeing a first-time right-foot shot tipped over.
Nine minutes of added time was indicated with substitutes Mo Eisa and Alli both going close while Posh substitute David Ajiboye drilled a shot inches wide of the post before the referee blew his whistle to bring an end to the contest.
Posh: Steer, Burrows, Edwards, Knight, Katongo, Kyprianou, Collins, Randall (sub Olakigbe 54min), Poku (sub Ajiboye 86min), Mason-Clark, Mothersille (sub Jones 54min, sub Clarke-Harris 90min). Subs: Bilokapic, Crichlow, De Havilland.
Exeter: Sinisalo. Purrington, Jules, Aimson (sub Kite 69min), Carroll, Woods (sub Wildschut 58min), Niskanen, Cox (sub Rankine 69min), Harris, Sweeney (sub Alli 79min), Harper (sub Eisa 58min). Subs: McDonald, Alli, Diabate.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Exeter City
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-1 Exeter City
Attendance: 7,496 (344 Exeter City fans)
Referee: Marc Edwards