Luke Williams says late winner gives ‘oxygen’ to Harry Leonard and Peterborough

Peterborough boss Luke Williams praised his side’s character after a stoppage-time strike from Harry Leonard secured their first win of the season with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mansfield.

Peterborough took the lead somewhat against the run of play five minutes after half-time when Ben Smith forced the ball home from close range via a deflection.

But Mansfield responded 10 minutes later, Rhys Oates surging forward from midfield before squaring the ball to an unmarked Michael Woods, who slotted into an empty net to level.

The Stags looked set to leave London Road with a point, but Leonard struck deep into stoppage time, reacting quickest in the box to fire home from 10 yards and seal victory for Williams’ side.

Williams said: “With a late goal you always celebrate more. But for me it’s a double celebration because it was Harry Leonard and because it means more for a number nine like him to score the winner as it’s their oxygen.

“Mansfield are a really difficult team to do that against because they are a really talented side. We suffered so badly at their place last season.

“We got a result that night and I’m not sure how we won that game other than some real spirit and grit. But today I think we probably inflicted more suffering on them and they are a really good side.

“The first 45 minutes I thought Mansfield were excellent and didn’t let us get out of our half, but we started the second half very bright.

“When they equalised I felt we had given a good opportunity away, but thankfully we’ve got Harry Leonard who was alive in the box.”

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough, whose side had beaten Doncaster on the opening day, said: “I thought we deserved at least a point over the course of the game.

“I thought we were very good in the first half and controlled that. In the second half they controlled it more, certainly.

“Both goals we conceded were very similar, we got blocks in but the ball rebounded to the lads’ feet, so there was an element of misfortune but we still have to defend better.

“We should have scored after two minutes. It’s a brilliant chance for Jon Russell and I feel we had enough good situations in the first half but nobody could produce the right ball at the right time.

“There was a real lack of quality in the final third. It wasn’t a lack of fortune, it was just a lack of quality and we certainly had enough good situations today.

“But with 200 seconds left you’ve got to do whatever you need to do to get that point.

“I have to stress, we were a bit unlucky with both goals, we’ve got blocks in and they’ve fallen to the lad who has put them in from 10 yards, but that won’t happen every week.”