Peterborough claim vital win in League One play-off race

Ephron Mason-Clark and Nathanael Ogbeta score in second half

Peterborough claimed a crucial win in the race for the League One play-offs by beating fellow promotion hopefuls Derby County. Second-half goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Nathanael Ogbeta settled the contest and moved Darren Ferguson’s men to within a point of the top six.

The Rams, who kicked off four points clear of their hosts, provided the only attempt on target of the first half when Conor Hourihane was denied by the boot of Posh keeper Will Norris.

Peterborough dominate second half

But it was a different story after the break as Mason-Clark rifled a 52nd-minute opener past County keeper Joe Wildsmith after being picked out by a Jack Taylor pass. Ogbeta, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Taylor were all then denied by smart Wildsmith saves.

Derby miss late chance

Substitute Tom Barkhuizen squandered Derby’s best chance to level when nodding a Louie Sibley cross just over from close range. And that proved costly as a second Posh goal arrived moments later in the 82nd minute when Ogbeta was on hand to tuck away his first goal for the club after Kwame Poku was kept out by Wildsmith.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Match ends and key moments

Match ends, Peterborough United 2, Derby County 0. Second Half ends, Peterborough United 2, Derby County 0. Foul by Haydon Roberts (Derby County). Jack Taylor (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Tom Barkhuizen (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Collins with a headed pass. Attempt blocked. James Collins (Derby County) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harvey White with a cross. Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Nathanael Ogbeta. Attempt missed. Ricky-Jade Jones (Peterborough United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left. Assisted by Nathanael Ogbeta.

Attempt saved. Harvey White (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Haydon Roberts with a cross. Attempt blocked. James Collins (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Dobbin.

Ben Thompson (Peterborough United) is shown the yellow card. Korey Smith (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Kwame Poku (Peterborough United). Craig Forsyth (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ricky-Jade Jones (Peterborough United).

Substitution, Peterborough United. Ben Thompson replaces Joe Ward. Substitution, Peterborough United. Ricky-Jade Jones replaces Ephron Mason-Clark. Goal! Peterborough United 2, Derby County 0. Nathanael Ogbeta (Peterborough United) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.

Attempt saved. Kwame Poku (Peterborough United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ephron Mason-Clark. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Credit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64997837

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