Peterborough boost play-off hopes against lowly Accrington

Peterborough moved up to fifth place in League One after their 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Accrington.

Posh lost their last game but first-half goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Jonson Clarke-Harris sealed victory at the Wham Stadium despite a late Stanley fightback.

Promotion-chasing Peterborough started well and Kwame Poku had a goalbound header cleared off the line by Mohammed Sangare while Aaron Pressley forced a one-handed save from Posh keeper Will Norris.

Peterborough took the lead after 23 minutes when Jack Taylor’s through ball found Clarke-Harris and he slotted the ball into the far corner of the net for his 27th goal of the season.

The visitors doubled their lead two minutes before half-time when Poku fed Mason-Clark and, while Stanley appealed for offside, he slotted home his 12th of the campaign.

Stanley pressed in the second half but were kept out by Norris before, in the 87th minute, Rosaire Longelo’s cross was tucked home by Sean McConville.

But the Reds could not find a late leveller and a third successive loss left them stuck in 23rd place, three points from safety.