Peterborough United 2-1 Fleetwood Town
David Ball's goal midway through the second half wasn't enough for the Cod Army as they lost 2-1 at Peterborough United.Posh took the lead shortly after the interval when substitute Souleymane Coulibaly converted a cross from inside the six yard box.
Substitute Ball brought Town level on 66 minutes with a cool finish after being played in on goal by Tariqe Fosu.
Jermaine Anderson nodded the home side back in front with just shy of quarter of an hour remaining, as he beat Maxwell at the front post.
Town pilled the pressure on hitting the post and cross bar during the match, and will take a lot of confidence from the display despite the result not falling their way.
New loan signing David Henen was handed his first start by Steven Pressley having joined from Everton on Wednesday afternoon.
Also returning to the side was Antoni Sarcevic, who was rested for the midweek JPT cup victory over Sheffield United at Highbury.
Conor Washington had the first opportunity of the game when the ball fell to him at the back post, but he screwed wide from a good position.
Henen looked lively up-top for the Cod Army, and very nearly nipped the ball past keeper Ben Alnwick but the home captain recovered well.
Chris Maxwell later pulled off a world class stop from Jon Taylor, as he tipped the midfielder’s goal bound free kick just past the post.
Posh continued to have the better chances during the early stages, and Erhun Oztumer placed an effort wide after being played in on goal.
Lee Angol was the next to have a go for the home side, as he picked the ball up in the middle and shot from distance but struck off target.
Taylor was a threat for United down the left, and slipped the ball into Jermaine Anderson’s path who’s shot zipped past the post midway through the half.
The tricky wideman then beat a couple of challenges in the middle of the park before testing Maxwell with an effort he had to tip over the bar.
At the end of the half, Joe Davis went close to giving Town the lead when his 18 yard effort looped over Alnwick and skimmed the top of the bar.
Maxwell was called into action at the start of the second period, as he kept out a shot which flashed across goal.
Antoni Sarcevic was then guilty of squandering a glorious opportunity for the visitors as he fired over Alnwick’s goal from inside the box.
Town sparked into life after this however, and Nick Haughton saw an effort kept out well by the Posh shot stopper.
Home substitute Coulibaly opened the scoring in the 56th minute when he converted a cross from the left past Maxwell from close range.
Town equalised soon after though through Ball as he beat Alnwick inside the box with an incisive finish after Fosu had played him in.
Posh pushed to retake the lead, and Taylor drove forward before forcing Maxwell to tip his long range strike expertly over the bar.
The home side retook the lead on 77 minutes when Anderson got in between the defence and headed past Maxwell at the front post.
Henen almost equalised for Town when he beat his man in the area and cut back inside before seeing his shot cannon back off the bar.
Town continued to push men forward with Pond and Bobby Grant both having chances in stoppage time.