Nicky Ajose scored twice as Posh fought back to claim a draw against UCD.
Peterborough United bounced back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against UCD with Nicky Ajose scoring a brace, the second strike coming in the final minute of the fixture at the UCD Belfield Bowl.On seven minutes, teenage striker Shaquille McDonald was cautioned for a fairly harmless tackle on the goalkeeper as Posh made a bright start. However, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock, a cross from Corcoran was not cleared properly and Robbie CREEVY stabbed the ball home from close-range.
Joe Newell saw a shot deflected behind for a corner kick on 21 minutes as Darren Ferguson’s men tried to get back on level terms. Grant McCann saw a free-kick hit the wall before Shaq McDonald dragged a shot wide of the target after Lee Tomlin’s initial effort was blocked.
Daniel Kearns sent a 25-yard volley over the crossbar on the half hour mark after good hold-up play from Jaanai Gordon. McDonald sent a snap shot over the bar after a good cushioned pass from Joe Newell.
On 42 minutes, Posh were inches away from a leveller as Shaq McDonald saw a powerful right-foot shot strike the base of the inside post before being cleared to safety. It was 2-0 to the hosts on the hour mark as substitute Dean CLARKE closed down young goalkeeper Alex Lynch with the ball rebounding off the front man into the back of the net following an attempted clearance.
Jevani Brown was denied by Mark McGinley on 67 minutes after letting fly from 20-yards on his left-foot. Posh reduced the arrears on 78 minutes as a corner from Coulson was headed on by Bostwick and AJOSE was there to glance home to reduce the arrears.
Lynch made a routine stop to deny Clarke’s low effort as the game entered the final stages at the UCD Bowl. Brown fired over late on after finding some room on the edge of the area as Posh tried to find an equaliser.
They were presented with a fine chance to make it 2-2 after Danny Swanson capitalised on a poor back-pass, but goalkeeper McGinley made a superb stop diving to his right before making a routine stop to deny Barnett.
In the final moments, Posh did get themselves level, superb work from Brown saw him pick out AJOSE, who curled a stunner into the top corner.
Posh first half: Lynch, Alcock, Brisley, Zakuani, Ntlhe, McCann, Newell, Kearns, Tomlin, McDonald, Gordon.
Posh second half: Lynch, Ferdinand (sub Richens 70min), Bostwick, Knight-Percival, Rowe, Payne, Coulson, Brown, Swanson, Ajose, Sinclair (sub Barnett 70min)
UCD: McGinley, Matthews, Langtry, O’Connor, Douglas, Kavanagh, Belhout, Creevy, Corcoran, Burke, Russell. Subs: Barron, O’Halloran, McCabe, Boyle, Clarke, Walsh, McNelis, McLoughlin, Mohamd.