Redditch United 0 Peterborough United 3

CONTROVERSIAL new signing Alex Cowley almost gave United a shock lead against Barry Fry's Peterborough United.

Starting his first game in a Reds shirt, Cowley had an effort from outside the area palmed down by Posh keeper Mark Taylor in the eighth minute before hammering the rebound straight back to force a good block from the visiting custodian.

But the Posh's impressive pre-season form continued when Richie Forsythe headed in from a yard out on the half hour.

Former Nottingham Forest target man Jason Lee set up the goal when his flick on almost caught out stand-in Redditch keeper Chris Taylor, who palmed it as far as the lurking Forsythe.

Former Reds favourite Dave Farrell beat Cowley on the left three minutes from half time before sending in an inviting cross for Lee to head across goal as Fosythe came in to head against the bar.

Fry stuck to his policy of fielding a different team in the second half and the switch paid off with Peterborough finding more fluency.

Neale Fenn calmly curled home a second in the 69th minute after a delightful Andy Edwards through ball.

Two minutes later Neil Manton had to scramble a Fenn effort off the line and within a minute Redditch had the ball in the net only for Richard Field's header to be ruled out for offside.

And Peterborough finished the scoring three minutes from time when Fenn and Francis Green combined on the edge of the area to send Jimmy Bullard clear to dummy Chris Scott before rolling home a third.