Burgess Error Costs Posh
Peterborough United's woes continued as Port Vale came from behind to beat Darren Ferguson's men 2-1 at Vale Park with a terrible defensive error a minute after the re-start gifting the hosts their winner.Michael O'Connor registered the first shot of the game on four minutes as he wriggled into space and fired over from 20-yards.
On 21 minutes, Posh found the breakthrough as Maddison's cut back was swept home by Conor WASHINGTON whose left-foot finish squirmed past Neal and into the corner.
Payne tested the Vale goalkeeper moments later from distance, but this time he was up to the task and made a routine stop.
On 28 minutes, Posh wasted a great chance to double the lead as he burst into the box, but his shot from close-range was saved by the legs of Neal.
On the half hour mark, Posh were pegged back as a cross into the box from Yates was headed across by Dodds into the path of BIRCHALL who had the simple task of converting from close-range.
Maddison squandered a great opportunity to put Posh back in front after finding himself clean through on goal, but his shot was saved by the legs of Neal.
Oztumer then curled a free kick wide of the near post after Newell was upended. Three minutes of injury time was signalled by the fourth official with only an ambitious effort from Veseli which went wide to write home about.
Two minutes after the re-start, Posh were behind and it was all their own making. A long ball forward was allowed to bounce and Burgess inexplicably tried to head the ball back to Loach, it was never ever going to reach the on-loan shot-stopper and WILLIAMSON had the simple task of flicking it into the net.
Payne cleared a header from Williamson off the line after he was left unmarked from a corner before Marshall fired over after cutting inside Ntlhe.
Darren Ferguson made a change on 57 minutes as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing replaced Ntlhe with Newell back to left back.
Loach tipped a cross-shot from Williamson over the bar on 68 minutes. Posh wanted a penalty kick on 81 minutes as Maddison took a tumble in the box, but nothing was given by the official.
Newell's left foot volley went inches wide on 85 minutes after a good clipped pass from Payne. Mclean and Washington both saw goalbound shots blocked late on as Posh applied a bit of pressure on the Valiant rearguard.
Port Vale: Neal, Yates, Dickinson, Robertson, Birchall (sub Daniel 77min), Dodds, Williamson, O'Connor, Brown, Marshall, Veseli. Unused ssubs: Johnson, Duffy, Lines, Moore, Campion, N'Guessan.
Posh: Loach, Ntlhe (sub Mendez-Laing 57min), Smith, Bostwick, Burgess, Payne, Oztumer (sub Mclean 77min), Maddison, Beautyman (sub James 70min), Newell, Washington. Unused subs: Henry, Brisley, Vassell, J. Anderson.
Half time: Port Vale 1-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 4,446 (244 Posh fans).