Washington Earns Posh Point
Peterborough United put in a much stronger second half display at the ABAX Stadium as they recovered from a poor first half performance to earn a point thanks to a well-taken Conor Washington strike against Crewe.The deadlock was broken inside the opening five minutes as Lauri Dalla-VALLE fired home from inside the box as Posh failed to deal with a fairly simple ball into the penalty box.
Ajose fired a free-kick into the wall after Bostwick was penalised for a high boot before Turton fired the rebound wide of the target.
Marcus Haber headed straight at Alnwick on 11 minutes as the Railwaymen continued to create chances in the early exchanges. Marcus Maddison fired over from 25-yards after skipping past a fairly weak Crewe defensive challenge on 14 minutes.
Alnwick produced a smart stop to deny Turton on 19 minutes before Michael Bostwick was yellow carded for a robust challenge in the middle of the park.
A crunching tackle from Payne set up a shooting chance for Maddison on 23 minutes, his effort was well struck, but Rachubka gathered at the second attempt.
Maddison was looking the most likely to score for Posh, he picked up a pass from Payne 25-yards from goal, but his left-foot shot went wide of the far post.
Bostwick volleyed wide of the target after a Newell cross was only half cleared as Posh tried to up the tempo in a game that was devoid of any pace.
Posh were forced into a change on 35 minutes with Payne forced off with a shoulder injury, David Norris his replacement.
On the stroke of half-time, Oztumer saw a curler go just over the bar before three minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official.
Maddison saw a free-kick loop into the arms of Rachubka via the wall moments after the re-start. Anderson had the ball in the back of the net moments later after a low cross from Maddison, but quite rightly, the flag was raised for offside.
Washington volleyed wide following a deflected Oztumer cross on 53 minutes. Bostwick saw a stinging shot from 35-yards beaten away by his near post by Rachubka on 57 minutes as Dave Robertson's men became camped in the visitors' half.
An Oztumer cross somehow eluded four Posh attackers on the hour mark but six minutes later, Posh were level as a Maddison shot was beaten away by Rachubka into the path of Conor WASHINGTON who gobbled up the chance.
Maddison was inches away from completing the turnaround on 70 minutes after twisting and turning in the box, but his right-footed finish went wide of the far post.
Washington was then denied by a fine point blank stop from Rachubka after his toe-poke appeared to be heading for the back of the net.
Luke James replaced Harry Anderson on 73 minutes as the Posh boss made a change. Oztumer fired wide of the far post after a good link up with Bostwick on 78 minutes.
Ricardo Santos replaced Oztumer on 86 minutes to give Posh a presence in attack in the air. Zakuani saw a later header saved by Rachubka as the game moved into stoppage time.
Full-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Crewe Alexandra
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Ntlhe, Zakuani, Anderson (sub James 73min), Newell, Bostwick, Payne (sub Norris 35min), Oztumer (sub Santos 86min), Maddison, Washington . Unused subs: Henry, Sheehan, Beautyman, Mclean.
Crewe: Rachubka, Davis, Ray, Turton, Dalla-Valle, Jones, Leigh, Haber (sub Ikpeazu 77min), Tate (sub Guthrie 32min), Ajose (sub Cooper 87min), Grant. Unused subs: Tootle, Inman, Cooper, Nolan, Stewart.
Attendance: 4,338 (98 Crewe fans).