Posh well beaten by struggling Cheltenham at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Peterborough United suffered a 3-0 home defeat to struggling Cheltenham Town at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday in a performance that manager Darren Ferguson afterwards described as ‘horrendous’ in a lengthy reflection on a difficult afternoon.

Joe Ward sent a shot wide of the target from 25-yards inside the opening six minutes as Darren Ferguson’s men made a confident start to proceedings. The visitors came close to the opener on the quarter hour mark as Alfie May got in behind, but his shot was smothered by Will Norris.

However, from the resulting corner kick, the Robins got their noses in front as Tom BRADBURY guided a volley into the corner unchallenged. The visitors doubled the lead on 21 minutes and it was a superb strike from Alfie MAY from the half-way line, catching Norris out with a stunning volley.

Ferguson made a double change on 24 minutes with Oliver Norburn and Nathan Thompson introduced for Kyprianou and Mason-Clark. Posh were inches away from pulling one goal back on 28 minutes as Joe Ward cracked a left-footed half-volley against the crossbar from just inside the box.

Posh had the ball in the back of the net on 42 minutes as Poku picked out Clarke-Harris, but the offside flag was raised and the goal was chalked off. Former Posh midfielder Ryan Broom saw an effort routinely held by Norris on 49 minutes before Ferry flashed a shot wide of the target.

Elliott Bonds was the first man cautioned on 52 minutes for a late foul on Jack Taylor in his own half. Taylor saw a shot from the edge of the box comfortably saved by Southwood after a forceful run from the former Barnet midfield man.

Broom was shown a yellow card for delaying a re-start on 66 minutes by referee Mr Young. Kent was booked for a foul as the game entered the final 20 minutes with the visitors as comfortable as any team have been at the Weston Homes Stadium all season.

Alfie MAY made it 3-0 on 73 minutes with a superb finish from the edge of the area as the visitors let another goal in. Clarke-Harris fired wide from 30-yards moments later as Dan Butler and Joel Randall were introduced into the fray.

Taylor was booked for diving on 81 minutes as he tried to force his way into the penalty area.

Posh: Norris, Ward, Kent, Edwards (sub Tshimanga 55min), Ogbeta (sub Butler 73min), Taylor, Kyprianou (sub N. Thompson 25min, Poku, Burrows (sub Randall 73min), Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark (sub Norburn 25min). Unused subs: Blackmore, Jones.

Cheltenham: Southwood, Long, Bradbury, Sercombe (sub Rea 68min), May, C. Taylor, Ferry (sub Williams 60min), Jackson, Bonds (sub Perry 84min), Keena (sub Goodwin 60min), Broom. Unused subs: Baggott, MacDonald, Olayinka.

Half-time: Peterborough United 0-2 Cheltenham Town
Full-time: Peterborough United 0-3 Cheltenham Town
Attendance: 8,947 (203 Cheltenham fans)
Referee: Alan Young