Vertu Trophy Winners

The EFL Trophy has had many names in his history, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, The Checkatrade Trophy, The Bristol Street Motors, The Vertu Trophy - no need to change the sponsor anymore - just call it the Darren Ferguson Trophy.

Peterborough United maintained their record of never losing at Wembley Stadium, became the first club to retain the EFL Trophy and Darren Ferguson is the first boss to win back to back in this competition with the same team - and not only that, they defied the odds by beating Sky Bet League One Champions Birmingham City in the process. 

It is pretty hard to sum this up. It is very hard to write a match report when all that matters is that Posh are the Vertu Trophy winners, but we will give it a go. 

After the formalities were over, the game got underway with rain in the air despite the sunshine which had soaked the Wembley surface prior to kick-off. 

It was the Blues who had the first chance of the game with Jay Stansfield capitalising on an error from Abraham Odoh, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. 

On 13 minutes, Poku won a free-kick in a dangerous area after jinking past three defenders allowing Posh to try their luck with a free-kick.

Last year it was the Harrison Burrows final. Well when Harley MILLS stepped up and curled an unstoppable left-foot free-kick into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar, everyone was beginning to think it was a left-back thing. 

Mills produced superb defending to stop Stansfield from getting a shot on goal at the back post on 41 minutes as Birmingham pushed forward.

However, just before the break, Posh doubled their lead and it was another late entry for the Goal of the Season as the skipper Hector KYPRIANOU strolled onto a cross from the left and swept an unstoppable shot past Allsop and into the back of the net.

Alfie May came on at the break for the Blues, but Posh continued to keep the League One Champions at bay with a Keshi Anderson effort that cleared the crossbar the closest they came to pulling a goal back.

Stansfield tested Steer with a low effort on 52 minutes but at the other end, Posh had a chance to make it 3-0 as Jones raced clear, but he was felled in the box, however a penalty was not awarded, so he got up, was denied by Allsop who then kept out the rebound from Poku.

The Blues had the ball in the back of the net on 83 minutes, but it was chalked off rightly for offside.

A total of 11 minutes was indicated for stoppage time and four minutes into that stoppage time, Steer produced a superb stop to keep out Jutkiewicz from close-range.

Steer was also in the right place at the right time as the ball bobbled about in the Posh penalty area before he bravely dived at the feet of bodies.

The final whistle was greeted with huge celebrations from the Posh players and supporters. The trophy lift was greeted with massive cheers as the players took the adulation from the supporters. 

Posh: Steer, Collins, Wallin, Mothersille (sub Susoho 74min), Odoh, Poku, Jones (sub Lindgren 85min), Kyprianou, Dornelly, Mills, Fernandez (sub Katongo 90min). Unused subs: Bilokapic, De Havilland, Conn-Clarke, Hayes.

Birmingham City: Allsop, Laird (sub Gardner-Hickman 63min), Klarer, Seung-Ho (sub Leonard 72min), Anderson, Willumsson (sub May 46min), Cochrane, Iwata, Davies (sub Jutkiewicz 85min), Stansfield, Dowell. Unused subs: Peacock-Farrell, Harris, Hanley. 

Half-time: Birmingham City 0-2 Peterborough United
Full-time: Birmingham City 0-2 Peterborough United
Attendance: 71,722 
Referee: Ben Speedie