Oxford 1-0 Peterborough: Captain Elliott Moore’s second-half header gives hosts slight advantage in League One play-off semi-final
- Elliott Moore headed home from four yards out in the 53rd minute
- Ricky-Jade Jones wasted a glorious chance to equalize for the visitors
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A second-half goal from Elliott Moore gave Oxford United a significant advantage in the first leg of their League One playoff semi-final against Peterborough United.
The skipper’s goal will ensure a slim lead for the second leg at London Road on Wednesday.
Oxford started the brighter of the two and Ruben Rodrigues tested goalkeeper Jed Steer with a shot after just three minutes.
It was generally the hosts who took the upper hand, under the radiant sunshine of the Kassam stadium.
However, it took Peterborough eighteen minutes for their first effort from distance of any note, when Joel Randall found Ephron Mason-Clark on the left flank, but his shot was collected by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford beat Peterborough in the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final on Saturday.
Oxford captain Elliott Moore headed home from four yards out in the 53rd minute.
Looking for the breakthrough, Tyler Goodrham fired away from the woodwork shortly after.
Oxford remained the more dangerous of the two teams, and a cross from the impressive Josh Murphy from the left in the 36th minute found its way just over the crossbar.
Moore headed in a header from a corner two minutes later as the hosts continued to apply more pressure.
Peterborough almost took the lead seven minutes after the restart when substitute Kwame Poku collected a pass from Jadel Katango, turned and fired into the box and aimed his shot just over.
However, Oxford took the lead a minute later from a corner. Cameron Brannagan connected with the delivery and was able to direct it towards the goalmouth, where captain Moore was on hand to head home from four yards.
Peterborough pushed for the equalizer and almost equalized with twelve minutes of normal time remaining, when Ricky Jade-Jones canceled out a Randall layoff, which was saved by Cumming.
The Oxford shot-stopper came under pressure late on and tipped over a Harrison Burrows effort which was eventually cleared to safety, but managed to keep a clean sheet.
