Posh Suffer Late Penalty Heartache
Matt Tubbs made it five goals from four games as Crawley Town ended the recent good form for Peterborough United with a 1-0 win at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.Goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik was called into action within the first two minutes as he produced a fine stop to deny the in-form Matt Tubbs at the near post as Crawley came out of the traps quickly.
Olejnik was well positioned to stop a powerful free-kick from Kaikai on nine minutes after a foul by Bostwick 25-yards from goal.
Danny Swanson sliced an effort wide after good work in the build-up from Rowe. Michael Bostwick was booked for a late challenge, his ninth of the campaign, on 11 minutes.
Bostwick tested Jones with a stinging low drive from a free-kick after Rowe was upended 35-yards from goal on 18 minutes.
On 28 minutes, Posh carved out a really good opportunity as Little's cross picked out skipper Rowe, but his left-foot shot went over the crossbar.
A neat reverse pass from Simpson created a chance for Tubbs but he fired straight at Olejnik who made a comfortable stop.
Four minutes after the re-start, Bostwick fired wide of the target from distance after a good lay-off from Rowe.
Ajose was denied by Jones on 53 minutes after a good through ball by Assombalonga as Posh created a decent opportunity out of nothing.
Conor Washington replaced Swanson just before the hour mark as Darren Ferguson made his first substitution of the afternoon. Assombalonga was denied by Jones' legs on the hour mark before Rowe dragged a shot well wide with his left-foot after the ball fell kindly to him just inside the box.
Posh were lucky to escape on 63 minutes as Tubbs' effort crept through the legs of Olejnik via a deflection, but the goalkeeper was able to dive on the loose ball following the ensuing scramble to keep the ball out.
McCann curled a free-kick wide of the target on 67 minutes after Ajose was bundled over. Proctor headed fellow substitute Drury's corner kick over the bar on 77 minutes as the home side sensed they could snatch a winner.
Posh were forced into a change 10 minutes from time as Nugent limped out of proceedings. Jack Baldwin was his replacement, making his first appearance for Posh.
On 84 minutes, the home side found the breakthrough as substitute Baldwin was penalised for handball and Matt TUBBS coolly chipped the ball down the middle from the spot to give the Reds the lead.
Josh McQuoid replaced Knight-Percival on 86 minutes as Posh tried to get back into the game. Rowe fired wide with a volley on 88 minutes as time began to run out for Posh.
Final Score: Crawley Town 1-0 Posh
Crawley: P.Jones, M.Connolly, McFadzean, Walsh, Sadler, M.Jones, Bulman, Dicker (sub Drury 55min), Simpson;, Kaikai (sub Procter 46min), Tubbs (sub P. Connolly 90min). Unused subs: Torres, Fallon, Boateng, Maddison,
Posh: Olejnik, Little, Brisley, Nugent (sub Baldwin 80min), Knight-Percival (sub McQuoid 86min), Rowe, McCann, Bostwick, Swanson (sub Washington 57min), Ajose, Assombalonga. Unused subs: Day, Alcock, Newell, Payne.
Attendance: 3,663 (555 Posh fans)