Posh lead Cobblers 10-1 after four matches

There was a lot riding on this local derby for both teams. Not that you’d have known it once a dramatic first 15 minutes had passed.

The relegation-bound Cobblers dominated that opening spell with Chris Long forcing a fine save from Conor O’Malley, but found themselves 2-0 down after failing to defend two setpieces taken by Liam Shephard in the his own half.

Jack Baldwin nodded home the first one and Jack Marriott’s classy finish made it 2-0 90 seconds later and that was pretty much that.

There were fleeting moments of Cobblers resistance, most notably when Sam Foley struck a post from a yard out, but Posh cruised through the rest of the contest, probably with an eye on the much tougher contests to come.

It’s now 10-1 to Posh in four wins from four matches since Cobblers returned to League One. The so-called Nene derby has become too predictable which might account for the relatively small crowd and a flat atmosphere.

Gwion Edwards, a surprise starter, should have made it 3-0 before the break, while Marriott was denied goal number 32 by a dodgy offside flag before the game petered out without much incident until Cobblers’ skipper Ash Taylor was harshly sent off towards the end.

None of that will bother Posh who climbed into fifth.

The so-called Nene derby has become too predictable.

Posh striker Jack Marriott is happy after scoring against Cobblers.