Peterborough 5 Brentford 1

Last updated : 28 September 2002 By Footymad Previewer

After taking a point to knock leaders Wigan off the top of the Division Two table last weekend, Peterborough United followed up with easily their best display of the season to hit five against Brentford, Andy Clarke rounding things off with one of the cheekiest goals seen at London Road.

The veteran one-time Wimbledon front man stormed forward in the 89th minute, side stepped the lunge of Bees goalkeeper Paul Smith and then when the ball was a few feet from the net, Clarke got down on all fours to head home! Manager Barry Fry was delighted, commenting: "We played some excellent football and deserved the result with Clarkie's cheeky effort the icing on the cake."

Posh could hardly have made a better start than a goal after just 29 seconds. Michael Dobson fouled Clarke and Jimmy Bullard swept in the free-kick from the right, with Brentford failing to pick up Simon Rea who had time to stoop and steer his header past Smith.

Apart from an overhead effort by Rowan Vine whose neat overhead kick forced Mark Tyler to stretch to pull the ball from beneath the bar, Brentford seldom threatened in the first half and Posh doubled their advantage two minutes after the break.

Leo Roget brought down Clarke as he stormed forward once more and Bullard stepped forward to give Smith no chance from the spot.

The third goal came on 67 minutes with Bradley Allen getting on the scoresheet for the first time since joining the club at the beginning of the month.

The former Charlton and Grimsby striker placed a header wide of Smith before Posh substitute Francis Green set up the fourth goal on 79 minutes, spotting Dave Farrell unmarked on the other side of goal and lobbing the ball across for the winger to power an unstoppable header into the roof of the net.

There was some late consolation for Brentford who pulled back a goal through Vine, but even so Posh had the last word with Clarke adding the fifth to the delight of the home faithful.

Brentford boss Wally Downes took responsibility for the defeat firmly on the chin: "Peterborough played well, but I lost us the game with poor team selection. It was a case of the wrong players and tactics on the day."