Ajose Treble Secures Nervy Win
Nicky Ajose scored a hat-trick as Peterborough United beat 10-man Notts County 4-3 following a pulsating Sky Bet League One encounter at London Road.
The deadlock was broken on five minutes with the visitors taking advantage of a lapse at the back post by Kgosi Ntlhe who allowed striker Enoch SHOWUNMI to nip in and fire past Day.
The visitors doubled their lead on nine minutes as Freeman crossed for Ronan MURRAY and he squeezed home a shot past Day at the near post.
Posh were close to an immediate reply, but Danny Swanson's initial shot was blocked and then his follow up was saved by the legs of Bialkowski.
The visitors were reduced to 10-men on the quarter-hour mark as goalscorer Murray was shown a straight red card by Dean Whitestone following an altercation with Danny Swanson.
Posh screamed for a penalty on 24 minutes as Swanson took a tumble in the box, but the referee waved away the protests. Tomlin then volleyed wide from 25-yards after a Ntlhe cross was only half cleared.
On 29 minutes, Posh halved the deficit as a good run and low cross from Little picked out AJOSE, who turned and fired a low left-foot shot past the goalkeeper.
Danny Haynes replaced Showunmi just after the half hour mark in County's first change. McCann was cautioned moments later for a trip by the touch-line.
Joe Day produced a superb stop with his legs to deny substitute Haynes who had raced clear on 33 minutes. Swanson saw a curler plucked out of the air by the Magpies shot-stopper moments later as the open nature to this game continued.
Boucaud, a one-time Posh player, fired wide from 25-yards before Assombalonga saw a shot on the turn blocked after good work from Brisley and Ntlhe in the build-up.
Day denied lively substitute Haynes with his body after getting in behind Knight-Percival as the Magpies pushed for a third.
Darren Ferguson made a change at the break with Craig Alcock replacing Ntlhe at left-back. Posh drew themselves on 54 minutes as a fierce cross from Knight-Percival was guided home from close-range into the top corner by ASSOMBALONGA for his 21st goal of the season.
Two minutes later a free-kick from Sheehan whistled just past the post after a foul by Brisley. Ajose then saw a shot beaten away by Bialkowski after good work from Swanson.
At the other end, Fotheringham fired wide after a patient County build-up. Former Posh and Cambridge United front man Kwesi Appiah replaced the excellent Campbell-Ryce on 64 minutes.
On 74 minutes, Posh made it 3-2 and what a goal it was. Nicky AJOSE had nothing on, he cut inside and fired a stupendous effort into the top corner past a flat-footed Bialkowski who had no chance.
However within a minute, Notts drew themselves level as GREALISH was given far too much time and fired past Day from an acute angle. Tomlin was denied by Bialkowski on 82 minutes after bursting into the box.
Appiah shot wide from 25-yards moments later and then Posh had the ball in the back of the net as Anderson finished from close-range but Assombalonga was rightly adjudged to have been offside in build-up.
On 85 minutes, Posh made it 4-3 as AJOSE completed his hat-trick, burying the rebound after his initial header was saved by Bialkowski.
Danny Kearns replaced Tomlin on 87 minutes as Ferguson shuffled his pack. Anderson then raced onto a through ball and rounded the goalkeeper but from a tight angle he fired wide.
Final Score: Posh 4-3 Notts County
Posh: Day, Ntlhe (sub Alcock 46min), Brisley, Swanson, Payne, Assombalonga, Tomlin (sub Kearns 87min), McCann (sub Anderson 79min), Knight-Percival, Ajose, Little. Unused subs: Olejnik, Vassell, Newell, Ephraim.
Notts County: Bialkowski, Sheehan, Smith, Leacock, Grealish, Showunmi (sub Haynes 31min), Murray, Campbell-Ryce (sub Appiah 64min), Fotheringham, Freeman, Boucaud. Unused subs: Pilkington, Thompson, Tempest, Hollis, Ball.
Attendance: 4,511 (345 Notts County fans)