Posh Lift Trophy At Wembley
Peterborough United lifted the Johnstone's Pant Trophy for the first time in the club's history after a hard fought victory over Chesterfield at Wembley Stadium despite having Joe Newell sent off in the second half.Posh made a stunning start to the final at Wembley, breaking the deadlock inside the first seven minutes as Josh McQUOID stabbed home from close-range after Brisley's initial header was parried by goalkeeper Tommy Lee.
Chesterfield felt hard done by that they were not awarded a spot-kick just before the goal as Brisley seemed to fell Doyle in the box, but the referee waved away the protests.
Roberts tried to win a penalty, but clearly dived on 24 minutes, while Ryan fired well as the League Two side enjoyed plenty of possession.
Morsy missed a glorious chance on 32 minutes after a clipped cross from Darikwa, somehow the midfielder slicing the effort wide of the target.
Evatt headed straight at Olejnik from a Roberts free-kick as the Posh offside trap failed.
Posh doubled their lead on 38 minutes and yet again it was from a set-piece, this time Swanson with the delivery and there was BRISLEY to power home a superb header past the despiaring dive of Tommy Lee.
On the stroke of half-time, Doyle was inches away from connecting to an in-swinging Roberts cross before referee Mr D'Urso blew for half-time.
Neither side made any changes at the interval as Chesterfield got the second half of this final underway. Assombalonga missed his kick when well placed following a good cross from McQuoid on 50 minutes before Rowe took a tumble in the box, but there was no foul for the referee to spot.
Swanson sent a left-foot curler over the crossbar after good hold-up play by McQuoid on 51 minutes.
On 53 minutes, Chesterfield pulled a goal back as Morsy fed DOYLE who clinically finished from six-yards past the despairing dive of Olejnik.
McCann saw a left-foot free-kick saved by Lee diving to his right after Swanson was upended by Humphrey, who was cautioned.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson made his first change on 66 minutes as Jack Payne replaced McCann.
On 68 minutes, Posh were reduced to 10-men as Newell was shown a straight red card for kicking out unnecessarily at Morsy.
Chesterfield replaced O'Shea with Mason Bennett on 71 minutes, while Shaun Brisley limped out of the action to be replaced by Craig Alcock.
Posh made it 3-1 on 77 minutes as a forceful run from Little was ended in the box by Cooper and ASSOMBALONGA stepped up to coolly convert from the spot for his 28th goal of the season.
Posh replaced McQuoid on 82 minutes with Southampton loanee Lloyd Isgrove. Evatt headed a Roberts free-kick over the bar on 84 minutes after Little wa spenalised for a foul.
Five minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official. Mason Bennett's deflected drive was well saved by Olejnik two minutes into stoppage time.
Final Score: Peterborough United 3-1 Chesterfield
Chesterfield: Lee; Darikwa, Evatt, Cooper, Humphreys; Ryan, Morsy, O'Shea (sub Bennett 71min), Banks (sub Hird 11min, sub Richard 78mins)), Roberts, Doyle. Unused subs: Dunbavin, Hird, Talbot.
Posh: Olejnik, Little, Bostwick, Brisley (sub Alcock 71min), Knight-Percival, McCann (sub Payne 66min), Swanson, Rowe, Newell, McQuoid (sub Isgrove 82min), Assombalonga. Unused subs: Day, Ntlhe.
Attendance: 35,663.