Defenders Come Up Trumps For Posh
It was the Posh centre backs who came up trumps on Valentine's Day as Ryan Tafazolli and Dominic Ball both used their head to great effect to secure a 2-1 win over 10-man Shrewsbury Town at the ABAX Stadium.Leutwiler was called into action inside the opening five minutes as he beat away a fierce drive from Morias who had done well to turn his man 25-yards from goal.
Morias sliced wide at the back post after a flowing Posh move with Edwards, Maddison and Smith heavily involved.
Angol volleyed wide from 25-yards after finding a pocket of space on the edge of the box following a deflected ball into his path by Binnom-Williams.
Rodman was cautioned for a foul on Forrester and from the resulting free-kick, Edwards forced a fine save out of Leutwiler after a wonderful delivery from Maddison.
Morias clipped the post on 20 minutes after a short corner was worked into the path of Maddison's, who saw his low centre turned goalwards by the striker.
Forrester fired wide from 35-yards on 27 minutes as Posh continued to probe. Rodman headed across goal on 29 minutes after a decent ball into the box from the lively Whalley.
Morias found the roof of the net with a stunning volley on the angle moments later, Leutwiler was getting nowhere near it had it been inches lower.
The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes, a dinked cross to the back post by Whalley was handled by Smith and the on-loan front man HUMPHRYS somehow squeezed his spot-kick past McGee and into the bottom corner.
Nsiala headed over from a right-wing centre from Riley moments later as the Shrews came close to doubling their lead.
Humprhys was cautioned for a foul on Grant on 35 minutes. Angol saw a shot blocked after good pressure from Morias and then Forrester fired over after an intelligent lay-off from Edwards.
Leutwiler denied Maddison after the winger had wriggled into the penalty box onto his right-foot on 42 minutes.
Binnom-Williams fired wide of the near post on the stroke of half-time after a header back across goal by Tafazolli.
Grant McCann made a change at the break with Paul Taylor replacing Maddison. Morias couldn't bundle home from close-range after a low cross from Taylor on 48 minutes with Binnom-Williams firing over as the ball fell into his path.
Shrewsbury were reduced to 10-men on 54 minutes as Humprhys was shown a second yellow card for stopping the taking of a Posh free-kick. A needless second caution and one that angered his manager.
Angol sent a looping header over the bar on 57 minutes as Tafazolli's header took a deflection and fell into his path.
Smith sent a volley straight at Leutwiler as the hour mark approached. Craig Mackail-Smith replaced Binnom-Williams on 61 minutes as McCann made his second change.
Taylor flashed a shot inches wide of the target before the Shrews made their first change. Posh drew themselves level on 71 minutes as a deep corner from Taylor was met by the head of TAFAZOLLI who guided it into the back of the net.
Forrester saw a low shot gathered by Leutwiler moments later as Posh went in search of a second. Grant headed wide of the near post from a deep Taylor free-kick on 75 minutes.
On 77 minutes, Posh got themselves in front in the contest, a short corner was worked to Taylor and his dink into the box was glanced home by BALL into the bottom corner of the net.
Da Silva Lopes replaced Edwards as McCann made his final change of the evening.
Posh: McGee, Smith, Tafazolli, Edwards (sub Da Silva Lopes 81min), Forrester, Angol, Maddison (sub Taylor 46min), Ball, Binnom-Williams (sub Mackail-Smith 61min), Morias, Grant. Unused subs: Tyler, Baldwin, Nichols, Samuelsen.
Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Riley, Sadler, Whalley (sub Yates 63min), Humphrys, Dodds (sub Roberts 78min), Brown, Morris (sub McGivern 83min), Deegan, Nsiala, Rodman. Unused subs: Halstead, Grimmer, Leitch-Smith, El-Abd.
Attendance: 4,116 (161 Shrewsbury fans)
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-1 Shrewsbury
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-1 Shrewsbury