Posh into the semi-finals of the Vertu Trophy after battling 3-2 victory over Cheltenham Town at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Manager Darren Ferguson admitted he got the first half formation wrong, but his changes at the break reaped rewards as Peterborough United booked a semi-final spot in the Vertu Trophy thanks to a 3-2 victory over Cheltenham Town at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Posh led the game in the first period thanks to skipper Hector Kyprianou, but went into the half-time interval trailing 2-1 and Ferguson responded by making four changes with Academy graduates Ricky-Jade Jones, James Dornelly and Harley Mills, alongside Malik Mothersille helping to change the course of the contest.
Mills and Mothersille were involved in the equaliser for Abraham Odoh while Jones scored the winner from an acute angle after racing onto a Gustav Lindgren pass.
The visitors started brightly with Thomas heading over and then hitting the crossbar after cutting inside onto his left-foot.
Former Posh goalkeper Joe Day produced two fine saves to deny Lindgren in quick succession on 22 minutes before Ferguson's men found the opening goal as KYPRIANOU tapped home from close-range after Emmanuel Fernandez was also denied by Day.
The visitors levelled the scores on 33 minutes as THOMAS cut inside and fired a stupendous effort into the top corner past the returning Jed Steer.
Nevett headed a corner wide of the target and a minute before the interval, Posh were a whisker away from re-taking the lead as Conn-Clarke fed Odoh, but his shot smacked against the post.
On the stroke of half-time, Cheltenham got their noses in front as MILLER raced clear and finished well past Steer.
Ferguson made four changes at the break and his team started well with Archie Collins repelled by Day after finding space in the box.
On 51 minutes, Posh got themselves level as Harley Mills fed Mothersille down the left, he powered into the area and his shot was kept out by Day with ODOH there to follow-up.
Lindgren was denied by Day again sprawling to his left before Posh got their noses in front as Lindgren fed JONES and from a very acute angle, he forced the ball past Day for his 15th goal of the campaign.
Cheltenham had a flurry of players booked for heavy tackles as Posh tried to extend their lead with Jones seeing a goal ruled out for offside.
There were no further alarms for Posh as they reached the semi-finals of the competition that they won at Wembley Stadium last season.
Details of the draw will be announced in due course.
Posh: Steer, Collins, Wallin, Conn-Clarke (sub Mothersille 46min), Odoh (sub Ihionvien 88min), Nevett (sub Dornelly 46min), Hayes (sub Mills 46min), Lindgren, Kyprianou, O'Brien-Brady (sub Jones 46min), Fernandez. Unused subs: Bilokapic, De Havilland.
Cheltenham Town: Day, Jude-Boyd, Kinsella (sub Dieng 73min) , Bradbury, Young, Miller (sub Hay 53min), Thomas, Archer, Adedokun (sub Power 68min), Stubbs (sub Bakare 73min), Backwell (sub Taylor 53min). Unused subs: Diallo, Doulson, Power.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1-2 Cheltenham Town
Full-time: Peterborough United 3-2 Cheltenham Town
Attendance: 2,587 (111 Cheltenham Town fans)
Referee: Scott Oldham