Posh did everything but score the winner as they were forced to settle for a point against 10-man Bolton Wanderers.
Peterborough United can count themselves unlucky not to be leaving Lancashire with all three points after hitting the woodwork three times against Bolton Wanderers, but ultimately Darren Ferguson’s men were forced to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw.
Ephron Mason-Clark saw an early header clip the top of the crossbar as Posh made a positive start to the game at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Jack Iredale was cautioned for a foul on Kwame Poku on four minutes as the former Colchester man raced into space.
Former Burton Albion front man Victor Adeboyejo fired wide from 20-yards after doing well to roll Josh Knight as the open nature to the game continued. Nicholas Bilokapic produced a fine stop to keep out a curler from Thomason moments later after a well worked set-piece from the Trotters.
Harrison Burrows was a whisker away from finding the breakthrough on 27 minutes, his right-foot curler going inches past the post with the keeper beaten. Clarke-Harris was then denied by Baxter as he swung a right-boot at Kioso’s centre.
Dion Charles headed a deep corner into the side-netting on 31 minutes with half of the stadium believing the ball had nestled in the back of the net. Forrester headed a corner kick wide of the target on 37 minutes for the Trotters.
Josh Dacres-Cogley was cautioned by referee Ross Joyce for a very late challenge on Burrows. Kioso followed him into that book for dissent. The deadlock was broken on 41 minutes as a delightful cross from Harrison Burrows was headed home by CLARKE-HARRIS. However, the lead didn’t last long as a low cross was spilled by Bilokapic and ADEBOYEJO was there to tap home.
Bolton were reduced to 10-men in first half stoppage time as Gethin Jones was shown a straight red card for a horrendous challenge on Ricky-Jade Jones. Ian Evatt was cautioned moments later for dissent. Kyle Dempsey was cautioned moments after the break as the physical nature of the hosts continued.
Clarke-Harris powered a header just over the top from a clipped cross into the box by Kyprianou moments later. Kioso headed over a Burrows cross on 57 minutes as Posh tried to make the extra man count with Bolton sitting deep.
Burrows smacked an effort against the post two minutes later before Clarke-Harris glanced a header wide of the target from a teasing Kioso centre. Mason-Clark lashed a volley high and wide on 63 minutes before Bolton made their first change with Dan Nlundulu replacing Adeboyejo.
Darren Ferguson made his first change on 68 minutes with Joel Randall replacing Jones in attack. Bolton got lucky again moments later as a cross from Kioso struck the leg of Iredale and struck the base of the post, the second time the woodwork had come to their rescue.
Substitute Randall forced Baxter into a smart save before Kyprianou glanced the resulting corner kick over the top as Posh again continued to dominate. Knight did superbly well to clear from under his own crossbar at the other end after good work from the substitute Bodvarsson.
Thomason was cautioned for a foul on Poku on 80 minutes. Four minutes later, Posh hit the woodwork for a third time as Burrows crashed a right-footed effort again the upright before Ronnie Edwards saw a careful curler parried clear by Baxter.
Four minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official as Bolton made another change with Aaron Morley introduced. Collins was cautioned for a foul on the half-way line deep into stoppage time before the referee brought an end to proceedings.
Bolton: Baxter, Jones, Iredale, Thomason, Sheehan (sub Morley 90min), Charles (sub Bodvarsson 72min), Dacres-Cogley, Adeboyejo (sub Nlundulu 63min), Forrester, Dempsey, Williams. Unused subs: Hutchinson, Jerome, Khumbeni, Matheson.
Posh: Bilokapic, Burrows, Edwards, Knight, Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark (sub Wakeling 84min) , Poku, Jones (sub Randall 68min), Kyprianou, Collins, Kioso. Unused subs: Talley, Katongo, Crichlow, De Havilland, Sturge, Wakeling.
Half-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 21,380 (805 Posh fans)
Referee: Ross Joyce