SECOND HALF
Peterborough had spent much of the first 45 minutes showing spirit to defend in their own half, but they began to pose more of a threat at the other end after the interval. Luca Christoudias’s free-kick – albeit high and wide of Cameron Byrne-Hughes’s goal – was a reminder that our lead remained slender.
Having seen that, the young Reds set about on going through the gears again. Now advancing towards the old Scoreboard End, Mantato had United’s first notable opening of the half, chopping inside from the right before firing his fierce left-footed shot over the crossbar.
Next it was captain Jim Thwaites to be denied on his left foot, this time time with a block from a defender, before Mantato had his latest attempt saved by Westcott, who bravely came rushing from his goal to get his frame in the way of Shah’s powerful rebound.
A series of substitutions for both sides followed, as the contest really began to open up. In United’s goal, Byrne-Hughes had been kept relatively quiet, but came up big when he was needed in the 66th minute, first getting down low to his left to thwart Patryk Sykut’s drive, before getting back to his feet to collect Eddie Fox’s volley, which was straight at him.
