Posh Suffer Late Penalty Heartbreak
A penalty deep into stoppage time earned Oxford United an unlikely 2-1 victory over Peterborough United at the Kassam Stadium.Jack Baldwin gave away a spot-kick with almost the last kick of the game to give the Yellows all three points after Tom Nichols had drawn Posh level with a close-range strike midway through the second period.
Captain Chris Forrester saw a shot blocked on six minutes after excellent play by Michael Smith in an advanced position down the right hand side.
Kane Hemmings looped a header wide of the target on 10 minutes after good work down the left by Josh Ruffels. Gwion Edwards was cautioned for a foul on 13 minutes as referee Mr Stockbridge set his marker down for the afternoon.
Forrester tested Eastwood with a deflected drive from 25-yards on 19 minutes after good persistence from Taylor on the edge of the box. Hughes glanced a header wide from a Marcus Maddison corner as Posh forced a number of set-pieces.
Edwards forced Eastwood into a fine save on 28 minutes, his deflected shot tipped over before Bostwick headed the resulting corner kick over the bar.
Hughes was denied by Eastwood on 32 minutes after finding space down the left as Posh continued to probe. Baldwin was cautioned on 34 minutes for a rash challenge.
Maddison saw a curling free-kick plucked out of the air by Eastwood as Skarz went into the book for dissent. Taylor saw a powerful free-kick blocked by the brave Edwards on 41 minutes, the defender doing well to stand up and take it in the face.
Forrester was booked on the stroke of half-time for an alleged dive as he went down following a Taylor pass. Four minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official before Mr Stockbridge brought the half to an end.
The breakthrough came 12 seconds into the second half as Posh gave away possesssion at the kick-off and Wes THOMAS scored with the aid of a huge deflection which sent goalkeeper Ben Alnwick the wrong way.
Lundstrum fired wide from 20-yards as Anderson was dispossessed with the home side now firmly on top. Anderson was denied at the other end by a fine stop from Eastwood who dashed from his line to stop with his legs after a fine Edwards pass.
Taylor fired wide of the near post after a good slide-rule pass by Forrester on 58 minutes. Posh found the equaliser just after the hour mark and it was a fine close-range finish from NICHOLS who fired high into the net after excellent approach play and composure from Taylor.
McCann made an immediate change with Leo Da Silva Lopes replacing the cautioned Forrester. Alnwick produced a fine stop to deny Dunkley at the far post from a corner kick before a mad goalmouth scramble ensued with the referee awarding a free kick in Posh's favour.
Adil Nabi replaced Maddison on 73 minutes as McCann made a second change. Maguire curled over a free-kick on 77 minutes as McCann introduced Shaquile Coulthirst for Taylor.
Sercombe fired into the side-netting when well placed on 81 minutes as Oxford found plenty of space in the Posh box. Posh were literally inches away from a second goal as Anderson's cross was sliced goalwards by Ruffels, the ball struck the inside of the post and then keeper Eastwood pounced on the loose ball.
Alnwick parried a Roberts effort and Posh cleared, but Edwards overhit his cross and it eluded everyone in the box. Baldwin was sent off deep into stoppage time for a foul on MAGUIRE and he stepped up and scored from the resuslting spot-kick.
Oxford: Eastwood, Skarz, Lundstram, Sercombe, Thomas (sub Crowley 80min), Maguire, Macdonald (sub Roberts 68min), Ruffels, Hemmings (sub Taylor 76min), Edwards, Dunkley. Unused subs: Buchel, Martin, Rothwell, Long.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Hughes, Bostwick, Baldwin, Edwards, Forreter, (sub Da Silva Lopes 62min) Taylor (sub Coulthirst 76min), Maddison (sub Nabi 73min), Anderson, Nichols. Unused subs: Tyler, Almeida Santos, White, Gormley.
Half-time: Oxford United 0-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Oxford United 2-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 7,500 (798 Posh fans)