Frankie Kent netted a late winner to earn Posh a vital 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town.
Peterborough United closed the gap to the play-offs back to seven points as a late Frankie Kent header secured a 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town at the Weston Homes Stadium as Darren Ferguson’s men took their tally to 19 points from the ten games since his return to the club.
After a patient start, the first chance arrived on five minutes as a deep cross from Joe Ward picked out Jack Taylor at the back post, but he couldn’t keep his close-range header on target. The deadlock was broken just after the quarter-hour mark as a wonderful delivery from Joe Ward was met at the back post by skipper Jonson CLARKE-HARRIS who made no mistake, heading home past the keeper Marko Marosi.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to get back on level terms, a deep free-kick was nodded back across goal by Saydee and Tom FLANAGAN was there to fire home via the underside of the crossbar to equalise.
Marosi was well placed to keep out a low left-footed effort by Ward on 25 minutes after good work from Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark in the build-up. Ward’s corner clipped the top of the crossbar moments later with Marosi furiously back-peddling as Posh came close to getting bac in front.
Mason-Clark saw a low shot comfortably claimed by Marosi on 36 minutes after cutting inside onto his right-foot following a good Ward pass across midfield. Pyke was cautioned for a foul on Taylor by referee Declan Bourne on 37 minutes.
Kyprianou glanced a header wide of the target from a driven corner kick from Burrows on 58 minutes before Tom Bayliss fired over off balance at the other end after a poor header from Ward caused a bit of panic in the Posh defensive area.
Flanagan was cautioned for a foul on Burrows right by the touch-line three minutes later. Mason-Clark had the ball in the back of the net on 63 minutes after a knock down from Clarke-Harris, but the assistant referee had his flag raised and the goal was chalked off for offside.
Kyprianou was cautioned for a foul 25-yards from goal on 65 minutes but the resulting set-piece came to nothing. Mason-Clark saw a left-foot shot on the angle deflected behind for a corner kick after a good Burrows pass had got Posh moving.
Saydee was cautioned for time-wasting on 78 minutes for about the fifth time in the game, referee Mr Bourne finally dishing out a caution. On 87 minutes, Posh got their noses in front as a free-kick from Ward was flicked on by Tshimanga and KENT was there to guide it home with his head.
Substitute Oliver Norburn was booked as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time and Will Norris followed him into the book for time wasting moments later. Norris produced an important stop moments later, clawing a swerving Leahy effort around the post.
Posh: Norris, N. Thompson (sub Butler 69min), Edwards, Kent, Ogbeta (sub Tshimanga 80min), J. Taylor, Kyprianou (sub Norburn 88min), Ward, Mason-Clark, Clarke-Harris, Burrows. Unused subs: Blackmore, Jones, B. Thompson, Randall.
Shrewsbury: Marosi, Leahy, Pennington, Moore, Winchester, Pyke (sub Shipley 57min), Bloxham (sub Street 85min), Bayliss (sub Bennett 85min), Dunkley, Saydee (sub Bowman 85min), Flanagan. Unused subs: Burgoyne, Craig, Barlow.
Half-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Referee: Declan Bourne