Match ends, Peterborough United 2, Gillingham 0.
PeterboroughPeterborough United2GillinghamGillingham0
Peterborough strengthened their grip on the final League One play-off spot with victory over Gillingham.
Britt Assombalonga opened the scoring with his 30th goal of the season, firing past Gills goalkeeper Stuart Nelson at his near post.
Skipper Tommy Rowe doubled their lead with a 20-yard drive that crashed in off the underside of the bar.
Assombalonga earned a penalty when he was felled by Bradley Dack but saw his tame spot kick saved by Nelson.
Peterborough now hold a six-point advantage over MK Dons, who are one place below in seventh.
Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"I thought it was a convincing win. The first goal was very important because people were getting a little frustrated.
"We didn't want to do anything different to the gameplan. My only disappointment was it should have been more than two goals.
"We know Tommy (Rowe) can get a goal from midfield. That's one of his strengths. It's perhaps an area of the pitch we don't get enough goals from."
Gillingham manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Kent:
"It was a very disappointed goal to give away in the first half and you've then got to stick together and fight like mad and I think we did that.
"If we'd had more belief in passing the ball, then we might have asked a few more questions of Peterborough.
"We've got another couple of wins in us. They're prepared to put the work in so it's going to be tight."
Line-ups
Peterborough
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Olejnik
- 31Little
- 3NtlheSubstituted forAlcockat 84'minutes
- 8Payne
- 5Baldwin
- 22Nugent
- 7Swanson
- 21Ajose
- 9Assombalonga
- 24Washington
- 14Rowe
Substitutes
- 2Alcock
- 4Brisley
- 6Bostwick
- 12Vassell
- 13Day
- 32Conlon
- 36McQuoid
Gillingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Nelson
- 23Harriman
- 3MartinBooked at 90mins
- 12Gregory
- 26BarrettBooked at 36mins
- 24InnissSubstituted forLeeat 15'minutes
- 11Weston
- 29Hewitt
- 10McDonald
- 4LinganziSubstituted forAkinfenwaat 45'minutes
- 15DackSubstituted forSmithat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Akinfenwa
- 17Birchall
- 18Lee
- 19Smith
- 27Fagan
- 31Hessenthaler
- 35Baxter
- Referee:
- Chris Sarginson
- Attendance:
- 6,543
Match Stats
Home TeamPeterboroughAway TeamGillingham
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Peterborough United 2, Gillingham 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Swanson (Peterborough United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Joe Martin (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Conor Washington (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Joe Martin (Gillingham).
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Attempt missed. Adebayo Akinfenwa (Gillingham) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Jack Payne.
Substitution
Substitution, Peterborough United. Craig Alcock replaces Kgosi Ntlhe.
Post update
Attempt missed. Britt Assombalonga (Peterborough United) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.
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Attempt missed. Danny Swanson (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
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Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Stuart Nelson.
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Attempt saved. Britt Assombalonga (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Joe Martin (Gillingham) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Jack Baldwin (Peterborough United).
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Cody McDonald (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Tommy Rowe (Peterborough United).
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Steven Gregory (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Jack Payne (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Cody McDonald (Gillingham).
