I DON'T know what went on on the training pitch during the run-up to this game, but it certainly worked as County were streets ahead of Barry Fry's Peterborough.
In the end the margin of victory simply didn't do justice to the home side's dominance, County could, and should, have won by three or four more.
The Hatters' desperately-needed first home league win of the season started with little more than a whimper, until the game burst into life in the 16th minute when defender Sean St Ledger appeared to palm away Warren Feeney's shot towards goal.
Referee Mr Joslin pointed to the spot, despite the fact that Posh players moaned that the assistant on the left had initially waved the flag for an offside, but either way it didn't matter as Rickie Lambert lashed a poor kick wide of the left-hand post.
That was all Sammy McIlroy needed - but credit to his players, they got straight back on with it and within five minutes wing-back Danny Jackman saw a shot superbly blocked by visiting goalkeeper Mark Tyler, then Luke Beckett burst through on goal but somehow screwed his shot inches wide.
Peterborough, who themselves were looking for a first win in five, responded on the half-hour when Peter Kennedy's low drive struck the outside of the post and went behind for a goal-kick.
County were back on the offensive though, and on 36 minutes Lambert tried to atone for his earlier howler but was unlucky to see Tyler keep out his curling free-kick at the second attempt.
The Hatters had the bit between their teeth on Saturday, however, and after the break it was simply a question of when they were going to score and not if.
The recalled Marc Bridge-Wilkinson flashed a spectacular volley just wide of the far post, then Lambert's daisy-cutter fizzed just wide.
The goal County had been craving duly arrived on 64 minutes, and it came as a result of some crisp and accurate approach play.
Feeney played a inch-perfect pass to Jackman down the left, and he in turn squared a measured low cross into the box for Beckett who gleefully rammed home his seventh goal of the season.
Beckett again went close seven minutes later when he was only denied by a brave block from Chris Plummer, then Feeney was similarly stunned by a fine save from Tyler as County went for the jugular.
Plummer was up at the other end late on as he almost grabbed a scarcely-deserved leveller with a header which flew just past the upright, but the last word fell to Beckett who fired in another sweet shot in the dying seconds - it was just off target.
It's just a pity that less than 4,200 were at Edgeley Park to witness a top class performance.
- COUNTY: Cutler, Geary, Adams, Williams A, Griffin, Cartwright, Lambert, Bridge-Wilkinson (Goodwin, 82), Jackman, Beckett, Feeney. Subs not used: Welsh, Spencer, Williams C, Barlow. Booked: Geary. Star Man: Danny Adams.
- PETERBOROUGH: Tyler, Jenkins (Newton, 71), Legg, Rea, Woodhouse, Platt, St Ledger, Willock (Clarke, 59), Thomson (Constantine, 71), Kennedy, Plummer. Subs not used: Jellyman, Sonner. Booked: Woodhouse.
Attendance: 4,119
Referee: Phil Joslin (Notts).
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