Posh beaten 2-0 by local rivals Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium as play-off hopes dealt a blow.
Peterborough United’s unbeaten run in the league came to an end at the Abbey Stadium as Cambridge United recorded a 2-0 victory to boost their survival hopes as a goal in each half condemned Darren Ferguson’s men to defeat.
Darren Ferguson’s men carved out the first opportunity of the game on seven minutes as Ephron Mason-Clark picked out Jonson Clarke-Harris on the edge of the box, but he flashed his first-time effort over the crossbar.
Nathan Thompson failed to control a volley at the back post on 23 minutes with the experienced defender seeing his effort clear the crossbar. Mason-Clark fired wide of the near post on 36 minutes after collecting a raking pass from the back brilliantly, the former Barnet man not forcing the keeper into a save.
The home side found the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time as an in-swinging corner was tapped home from close-range by Harrison DUNK. Moments after the re-start, Lankester was afforded a free header at the back post from a deep cross, but his header was straight at Norris.
Lankester drilled a shot wide of the post before manager Ferguson made some changes to his starting line-up. Kent was cautioned for a foul before the Posh boss could make a substitution. Kent was one of those to be replaced with Burrows also making way as Dan Butler and Hector Kyprianou were introduced.
Ogbeta was denied by goalkeeper Mitov after a nice Posh move but less than 60 seconds later, the home side were two goals to the good as Sam SMITH crashed a shot into the back of the net via the inside of the post.
Taylor was superbly denied by Mitov from close-range moments later after a clever cross from Ogbeta as Posh’s chances of finding an immediate way back into the game were dashed. Lankester was cautioned for a foul on Taylor by referee Ross Joyce.
Posh should have had a spot-kick on 85 minutes as a cross into the box by Mason-Clark picked out Clarke-Harris in front of the defender, but the referee failed to spot a pretty blatant shirt tug by Okedina.
Taylor was cautioned in stoppage time with Goalkeeping Coach Mark Tyler also going into the book for dissent.
Cambridge United: Mitov, Digby, Brophy (sub Okenabirhie 78min) Smith (sub Ironside 84min), Dunk, Lancaster (sub Okedina 78min), Bennett, Morrison, McGrandles, Knibbs (sub Tracey 75min), L. Bennett. Unused subs: Mannion, Seddon, Thomas.
Posh: Norris, Ogbeta, Edwards, Kent (sub Butler 57min), N. Thompson (sub Knight 75min), Poku (sub Tshimanga 74min), Burrows (sub Kyprianou 57min), Taylor, Norburn (sub Randall 80min), Mason-Clark, Clarke-Harris. Unused subs: Blackmore, B. Thompson.
Half-time: Cambridge United 1-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Cambridge United 2-0 Peterborough United
Attendance: 7,711
Referee: Ross Joyce