A second half goal from Elliott Moore gave Oxford United an important advantage in the League One playoff semi final first leg against Peterborough United.

The goal from the skipper will ensure a slender lead for the return leg at London Road on Wednesday.

Oxford started the brighter of the two, and Ruben Rodrigues tested keeper Jed Steer with a shot after just three minutes.

It was the hosts who generally were on top, in the bright sunshine of the Kassam Stadium.

However, it took Peterborough eighteen minutes for their first remote effort of note, when Joel Randall found Ephron Mason-Clark on the left flank, but his shot was collected by Jamie Cumming.

Oxford captain Elliott Moore headed home from four yards out in the 53rd minute

Looking for the breakthrough, Tyler Goodrham fired wide of the woodwork soon afterwards.

Oxford remained the more dangerous of the two sides, and a cross by the impressive Josh Murphy from the left on 36 minutes found its way just over the crossbar.

Moore directed a header from a corner wide two minutes later, as the hosts continued to apply more pressure.

Peterborough almost took the lead themselves seven minutes after the restart, when substitute Kwame Poku picked up a pass from Jadel Katango, turned and shot in the box and aimed his effort just over.

However, Oxford took the lead a minute later from a corner. Cameron Brannagan connected to the delivery and was able to direct it back into the goalmouth, where captain Moore was on hand to head home from four yards out.

Peterborough pushed for an equaliser, and almost pulled level with twelve minutes of regulation time remaining, when Ricky Jade-Jones flicked a lay-off from Randall, that was saved by Cumming.

The Oxford shotstopper was put under late pressure, and spilled an effort by Harrison Burrows that was eventually cleared to safety, but was able to keep a clean sheet.