Peterborough United suffered their first pre-season friendly defeat of the campaign as Rushden and Diamonds claimed a 2-1 victory at Nene Park to lift the Maunsell Cup.

Posh made a lively start and once again it was George Boyd who was at the heart of it, wriggling past the full-back and driving the ball into the feet of Craig Mackail-Smith, who took a touch before shooting with debutant Alan Marriott making a smart reflex save.

Boyd dragged a 25-yard shot wide of the target moments later after finding room in central midfield. A raking pass from Craig Morgan picked out Aaron Mclean on seven minutes and his lay-off picked out Tom Williams, but he fizzed his cross just out of reach of Chris Whelpdale at the far post.

Former Posh central defender Sagi Burton headed a Jon Challinor corner kick wide of the target on the quarter hour mark, but it was Posh who were firmly on top without testing Marriott apart from the early Mackail-Smith.

Lee Phillips tested Joe Lewis with a fierce effort on the half hour mark after a neat turn saw him twist past the attention of Morgan. Rushden had the ball in the back of the net on 42 minutes as Mitchell delivered for Clare to glance home, but the offside flag ruled the effort out.

Mclean fired over moments later as the half drew to a close and although Posh had the lions share of the possession, they will be disappointed that they had not tested Marriott more. They were made to pay just as the half entered stoppage time as the ball was swept past Lewis by CHALLINOR who was left in space on the edge of the area after a Williams error.

Lee Tomlin tested Lewis from distance on 52 minutes, but the goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save. The leveller for Posh arrived on 53 minutes and it was a superb left-foot free-kick from KEATES who floated the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Charlie Lee and Kieran Charnock were introduced as substitutes with Westwood and Whelpdale making way. Mclean sent an acrobatic over-head kick just past the post after a decent delivery from Charlie Lee on the right.

Mclean should have made it 2-1 on 63 minutes after Mackail-Smith showed excellent pace and trickery to beat the full-back and deliver a pinpoint cross into his team-mates path only to see Mclean find the side-netting with his close-range effort.

Rushden got their noses back in front on 69 minutes as Morgan was brushed off the ball on the edge of the area by substitute Dean McDONALD, he burst into the box and sent a powerful shot past Lewis at his near post and into the back of the net to the delight of the home support.

Scott Rendell was brought on by manager Darren Ferguson for the final 15 minutes to try and force an equaliser to take the cup-tie to penalty kicks but Rushden were looking the better side in the second half and Marcus Kelly sent a dipping shot past the upright.

Mclean sent a header wide from a Lee centre and on 78 minutes, Andrews was played in by Boyd down the left but his low shot was parried away for a corner kick by Alan Marriott. Two minutes of added time was signalled by the fourth official, but Posh couldn't force an equaliser and the Diamonds lifted the trophy.

Final Score: Rushden & Diamonds 2-1 Peterborough United

Referee: Mr P Walton

Posh: Lewis, Martin, Morgan, Westwood (sub Charnock 57min), Hyde, Mclean, Boyd, Keates, Mackail-Smith (sub Rendell 76min), Whelpdale (sub Lee 58min), Williams (sub Andrew 58min). Subs unused: Potter.

Rushden: Marriott, Osano, Jelleyman, Burton, Hope, Challinor (sub Corcoran 64min), Kelly, Phillips (sub McDonald 60min), Clare (sub Rankine 60min), Mitchell (sub Gulliver 89min), Tomlin. Subs unused: Roberts.