Craig Mackail-Smith scored the fastest goal of the day in the Football League as Peterborough United eased to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Hereford United at London Road.

Peterborough United made a whirlwind start against Hereford and opened the scoring within 27 seconds and the visitors didn't even touch the ball as a slick move involving Micah Hyde, Gavin Strachan and Shane Blackett ended with a teasing cross by Jamie Day being nodded in by Craig MACKAIL-SMITH.

It was the fifth goal in a row that Mackail-Smith has scored in a Posh shirt and he is only two away from the club record of seven goals in seven successive matches. It was 2-0 on 13 minutes and another assist by Day, whose in-swinging corner was powered home by WHITE for his third goal in six matches.

The tricks were already coming out with Boyd back-heeling the ball through the legs of Purdie as the crowd lapped up what was a superb opening 18 minutes. Boyd tried an exquisite chip from 20-yards moments later, but Brown threw himself to the left and pushed the ball away for a corner kick.

Some more excellent football from Posh created yet another opportunity with Boyd latching on to a Mackail-Smith flick only to see his fierce left-foot effort tipped over by Brown. Hereford responded by replacing Thomas with Richard Rose, prompting calls of 'you don't know what you are doing' from the travelling Hereford supporters.

Williams fired wide with a rare effort from the visitors, but goalkeeper Mark Tyler was enjoying a hassle free half hour. A fierce cross-shot from Newton was well-held by Brown as a long goal-kick from Tyler picked the winger out. Tyler was on hand to smother a Connell shot as Hereford began to put a few moves together of their own.

The visitors won their first corner kick on 35 minutes following a deep corner from Mkandawire and they won their second moments later after a good challenge from White cut short a promising attack down the left from substitute Rose.

Hyde fired over after a good lay-off from Boyd as Posh responded well with a quick attack down the right instigated by Newton.

Posh made it 3-0 four minutes into the second half as the ball rebounded kindly into the path of the onrushing STRACHAN who smashed the ball past Brown and into the back of the net.

Guinan squandered a good chance to reduce the arrears as he fired wide of the near post after beating the offside trap before youngster Day tested Brown with a curling free-kick from the edge of the area.

Boyd tested Brown with a low drive as Posh pressed for a fourth goal as Hereford began to slip deeper and deeper into their defensive third. Hyde curled a free-kick well over the bar to the amusement of the management, who looked somewhat bemused at the identity of the set-piece taker.

Gain tested Brown with a fierce effort after a neat one-two with Day on the left as Hereford tried to soak up the pressure, which was beginning to build again. Josh Low replaced Day with 20 minutes to go as the former Leicester City man was given a comfortable run-out following his return from a calf strain.

Mackail-Smith was denied by a superb save by Brown diving to his left after Boyd threaded a fine ball into his path as Posh continued to dominate and from the resulting corner, White nodded over, heading the ball into the ground with the ball bouncing over the bar.

>Mackail-Smith had the ball in the back of the net moments later, but the referee blew up for a foul on the goalkeeper, to his obvious relief. Boyd then fired a shot straight at Brown as the efforts rained in on the beleaguered Hereford goal.

Blackett raced the length of the field and came desperately close to making it 4-0, but his shot was deflected wide before Strachan's shot was plucked out of the air by Brown. Richard Butcher was given a run-out late on before the referee brought an end to proceedings.

Final Score: Peterborough United 3-0 Hereford United

Referee: Mr R Lee (Essex)
Attendance: 3,759 (229 Hereford fans)
Sponsors' Man of the Match: Shane Blackett