Taylor Hits Quick Fire Hat-Trick In Emphatic Posh Win
Peterborough United wrapped up the Sky Bet League One campaign with an emphatic 5-1 win over Blackpool, who were relegated to Sky Bet League Two as a result.Substitute Jon Taylor cracked in a 12-minute hat-trick while Shaquile Coulthirst netted his first goal at the ABAX Stadium. Marcus Maddison converted a penalty kick as Posh came from behind to record a stylish win.
Caretaker boss Grant McCann has now overseen four games in two seperate spells, scoring 15 goals in the process with nine of those in the last two games.
The Tangerines opened the scoring just after the quarter hour mark as a deep cross from the left was powered past goalkeeper Mark Tyler by Jacob BLYTH.
Posh were forced into a change on 22 minutes as Zakuani limped out of the action, Ricardo Almeida Santos his replacement.
Leonardo Da Silva Lopes was cautioned for a late challenge on Aldred on 24 minutes. Lee Angol tested Doyle with a deflected drive from distance, the keeper doing well to tip it over for a corner kick.
Fox followed Da Silva Lopes into the book for a late challenge on Potts on the half hour mark. Posh came close to a leveller on 37 minutes as Maddison skipped around Doyle, but his left-foot shot was somehow cleared off the line by McAllister.
Norris fired straight at Tyler after working a decent shooting opportunity on 39 minutes. Redshaw fired over the bar on 42 minutes after wriggling into space on the edge of the box for the visitors who were threatening a second goal as the half drew to a close.
Maddison tested Doyle on the stroke of half-time with a curler from 20-yards, the Seasiders custodian beating the ball away to safety.
Maddison saw a fierce free-kick beaten away by Doyle before the referee brought the half to a conclusion.
Posh drew themselves level within a minute of the re-start as Coulthirst was felled just inside the box by Aldred and MADDISON stepped up to coolly convert from the spot for his 13th goal of the campaign.
McAllister was booked for cynically hauling down Angol afte a forceful run on 52 minutes and from the resulting free-kick, Nabi was a whisker away of giving Posh the lead, the set-piece landing on the top of the net.
Forrester tested Doyle from long-range on 58 minutes as Posh began to get a foothold in proceedings.
Redshaw curled a shot wide of the target three minutes later as the Seasiders continued to push forward.
Coulthirst was a whisker away from making it 2-1 to Posh on 65 minutes after collecting a fine Da Silva Lopes pass, but he fired inches wide of the far post with his left-foot.
Posh got themselves in front on 74 minutes and it was substitute Jon TAYLOR, wriggling into the box and then firing low past goalkeeper Doyle with his left-foot, the ball kissing the inside of the post before nestling in the back of the net.
The home side made it 3-1 on 76 minutes as a raking pass from Maddison picked out COULTHIRST who cut inside and fired a powerful shot past Doyle and into the back of the net.
It was 4-1 moments later as TAYLOR linked well with Coulthirst and superbly finished past Doyle and he completed a stunning 12-minute hat-trick on 86 minutes as he fired home with his left-foot to make it 5-1.
Posh: Tyler, Smith, Zakuani (sub Almeida Santos 22min), Baldwin, Maddison, Fox, Da Silva Lopes, Angol, Forrester (sub Chettle 82min), Coulthirst, Nabi (sub Taylor 71min). Unused subs: Henry, Oztumer, Beautyman, Williams.
Blackpool: Doyle, White, McCAlliser, Robertson, Potts, Redshaw, Aldred, Philliskirk, Norris, Higham, Blyth. Unused subs: Letheren, Boyce, Paterson, Smith, Aimson, Yeates, Ikpeazu.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-1 Blackpool
Full-time: Peterborough United 5-1 Blackpool
Attendance: 6,005 (385 Blackpool fans)