Posh suffer a 2-1 defeat to Leyton Orient at the BetWright Stadium with Jimmy-Jay Morgan's header proving a late consolation.
Peterborough United suffered a frustrating afternoon in the capital as Leyton Orient made it back to back victories in Sky Bet League One with a 2-1 victory as Luke Williams' side returned empty handed.
The defeat was coupled with another injury, this time to skipper Carl Johnston, who was forced off with a calf injury. He will be assessed in the coming days to discover the extent of the injury.
In terms of positives – the return of Harley Mills from a long lay-off was timely given the blow sustained by Johnston, however, it was an afternoon where O's shot-stopper Will Dennis barely got his gloves dirty as Posh reached the final third without causing any real threat.
Kyrell Lisbie and Declan Frith got plenty of the ball in the first half but failed to get their shots past defenders. Morgan fired wide from distance after an excellent turn in his own half.
The deadlock was broken before the break through O's skipper Jack SIMPSON who was in the right place to divert a low cross into the back of the net. Posh had arguments that Ballard's initial shot was a goal-kick rather than a corner, but didn't defend the second phase adequately enough after Alex Bass had punched the corner clear.
David Kamara, who worked tirelessly in attack and showed some neat touches, was not provided with much service. One cross from James Dornelly in the second half was diverted over the top, seemingly by a defender rather than by the youngster himself.
The O's scored a second goal on the counter-attack as substitute BAKINSON fired into the roof of the net after the home side moved from their defensive third to the final third in devastating fashion.
Posh did halve the deficit through MORGAN who met an Archie Collins free-kick to loop a header past Dennis, but there were no further chances for the visitors with Orient missing a few as the game moved towards stoppage time.
Posh welcome Rotherham United to the Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).
Leyton Orient: Dennis, James, Morris, Simpson, O'Neill, Mitchell (sub Archibald 59min), Casey (sub Happe 60min), Abdulai (sub El Mizouni 83min), Levitt (sub Bakinson 60min), Wellens, Ballard (sub Perkins 88min). Unused subs: Cahill, Fawunmi.
Posh: Bass, Johnston (sub Mills 29min), Collins, Khela, Frith (sub Hayes 57min), Lisbie, Morgan, Okagbue, Kioso, Dornelly, Kamara (sub Aderoju 73min). Unused subs: Smith, Mendonca, Nevett, Sykut.
Half-time: Leyton Orient 1-0 Posh
Full-time: Leyton Orient 2-1 Posh
Referee: Bobby Madley