Paul Hayes' penalty just before half-time ended a run of three successive defeats for Scunthorpe.

Hayes kept his cool to score low into the corner following Kieran Charnock's clumsy foul on Marcus Williams.

Peterborough could have levelled soon after the break but Craig Mackail-Smith failed to finish from six yards.

Gary Hooper and Garry Thompson both wasted good chances for the home side while Aaron Mclean blazed over for the visitors in injury time.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne, Pearce, Iriekpen, Williams, Thompson, McCann, Togwell, Hurst (Morris 76), Hooper (Woolford 87), Hayes (Forte 83).
Subs Not Used: Lillis, Wright.

Booked: Togwell.

Goals: Hayes 44 pen.

Peterborough: Lewis, Martin, Blackett, Charnock (Whelpdale 60), Day (Williams 71), Torres (Hatch 81), Keates, Lee, Boyd, Mackail-Smith, Mclean.
Subs Not Used: Tyler, Batt.

Att: 4,717.

Ref: Nigel Miller (Durham).