The game started slowly but it was clear that both sides where here to play some nice football. We passed the ball around quite well in midfield and Gallen and Thomson were doing well up front. We lacked the final pass though and chances were few and far between. Peterborough looked a decent side and the movement of McKenzie and Green up front caused us a few problems but thankfully the offside trap was working well and most danger was avoided. They almost took the lead with the first real chance of the game after a corner on the right was headed goalwards by Danielsson (not the bloke from the Karate Kid movies) but Bignot cleared it off the line. This was the wake up call we needed and Langley had two chances to give us the lead.On both occasions he cut in on his right foot and unleashed powerful shots but Mark Tyler was in good form and pushed both shots wide of the post. We grabbed the lead soon afterwards when a corner by Langley was half cleared and for some reason Tyler shoved Thomson over for a clear penalty. It seemed such a waste as Thomson wasn't going to score but we weren't complaining. Thomson grabbed the ball and the crowd held their breath with moans of "Oh no he's gonna put it in the same side again". Thomson though sent the keeper the wrong way and looked delighted to get his first goal of 2002 and his nineteenth of the season. We were looking good value for our lead and there was an urgency about our performance that we haven't seen for a few weeks. Still we should have gone in at half time level after a good run through midfield by Bullard and his excellent shot hit the post and rolled across the line for the grateful Bignot to clear. It would have been no more than they deserved in an even first half. The second half was much better from both sides.Peterborough looked very good going forward and should have scored from some good attacks. Their best chances came through defensive error though as Rhys Evans had a mad five minutes where he seemed to lose the plot. Evans waited to long for the ball to fall in his arms and McKenzie nipped in to go around him but he went to wide and Evans had enough time to recover and push the shot away for a corner. He also sliced a kick against an onrushing forward but that again went wide. We looked a bit shaky at the back but Shittu was playing well and we kept the lead in tact. Doudou was having a good game running at defenders but again he held on to the ball for to long in one instance, as Thomson was in acres of space ready to be put through. Thomson had a great chance to add a second but after good work by Forbes his shot went the wrong side of the post. Doudou then put Gallen in but hurt himself as he did it and was taken off with Leroy coming on. With Leroy on the left we looked more dangerous going forward and he produced a good display on the left linking well with Bignot and we became more of an attacking threat. His crossing isn't great but he is quick and causes panic when he runs at players and that's something we had been missing when he was on the bench. A good move involving Langley and Gallen saw Rose have a shot fly just over and he had another long range effort go over as well as we began to take control. Quite how they didn't get level is a mystery though as they had one great chance to score. Bullard beat the offside trap and his shot was well saved by Evans but as Shittu attempted to clear it his French and flew just over the bar. It was a lucky escape for us and a warning of how good they looked on the break. Andy Thomson went off to a standing ovation and on came young Dennis Oli who looked very impressive in the last ten minutes. He had a good first touch and didn't look out of place as he linked well with Gallen and Griffiths. One funny moment in the game saw Gallen take a throw in after Doudou's injury but a kid in the front of the Ellerslie Road stand asked to touch the ball. Gallen gave him the ball and as the ref blew for the game to re start the kid wouldn't let Gallen have the ball back until he grabbed it out of his hands. Well it was funny at the time it sounds a bit rubbish when you write it. Anyway we did well in the closing stages passing the ball around defending a lot better and we got the win we desperately needed. Results elsewhere meant the playoffs look even further away now but it's been a good season and if we can build on this next season then the future could be bright. Man of the Match: Danny Shittu Players Ratings: 33. Rhys Evans: Had a mad ten minutes where his kicking was awful and he was all over the place but did well for the rest of the game and made some good saves. 6/10 17. Terrell Forbes: Back to his best another excellent performance and the energy he shows to get forward on the over lap is amazing. 8/10 11. Marcus Bignot: Caught out a few times but did his job as he always does and got forward every time we attacked. 7/10 4. Steve Palmer: People moan about his lack of pace but again he showed why is important to the team with a solid display in defence. 7/10 31. Danny Shittu: Perhaps it was the presence of the Nigerian manager watching from the stand but he looked better than he has done for ages. 8/10 12. Matthew Rose: A decent game in midfield but didn't really do a lot until the last 20 minutes. 6/10 8. Gavin Peacock: Looks like a passenger I'm afraid and his best days are behind him. A shame as he has been an excellent player for the club, but his influence on the game is minimal to say the least. 6/10 9. Richard Langley: Almost scored two cracking goals and showed a few moments of skill, which takes your breath away. Lets hope the rumours of him going to Chelsea are not true. 7/10 29.Doudou: Best he's played for a few months and a shame he got injured as he was coming into the game a bit more. 7/10 18. Kevin Gallen: A typical Gallen display, worked hard and passed the ball well. 7/10 27. Andy Thomson: Looks to be getting fitter and had a good game. He is more involved with the game since Gallen's arrival and he linked well with him at times today. Great to see him score and shut up a few of the moaners who continually slag him off but once again his goals have won us three points. 7/10 Subs 14. Leroy Griffiths: I thought he had a good game when he came on, looked sharp but his final ball is not the best still. 7/10 36. Dennis Oli: Very impressive and a player who will continue to improve with these opportunities given to him. It's great to see home grown players given a chance again. 7/10
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