Full time League One: Peterborough 3-1 Stevenage. Attendance 7,504

Peterborough eased past Stevenage to consolidate their coveted play-off berth, while Steve Evans' Boro still remain sixth

A 44th minute penalty by Posh captain Harrison Burrows, supplemented by two fine second half strikes by Jadel Katango - on loan from Manchester City - on 64 minutes, and Kwame Poku, on 77 minutes, were enough to move Peterborough into fourth place, before Nick Freeman grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.

Prior to kick-off fifth played sixth in the increasingly congested hunt for a League One play-off spot, when Evans side made the trip up the A1 to Peterborough to take on the Posh at London Road on Wednesday evening.

In the play-off chasing clash broadcast live on Sky Sports, Stevenage made a lively start, with Jordan Roberts heading narrowly wide when well-placed in a crowded box, after only nine minutes.

Darren Ferguson's side - son of Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson of course - attempted to play the ball out from the back, on what could only be described as a purposely sodden pitch, heavily watered as it was before kick-off. Yet, the ploy appeared to backfire as Stevenage pushed the home side deeper and deeper in a bid to deny space.

Evans side - which contained two former Posh players in defender Dan Butler and midfielder Ben Thompson who had helped Peterborough to promotion to the Championship during the pandemic affected 2020-21 season - employed their aggressive high press, while also using their superior fitness and athleticism to trouble the home side's backline.

Terence Vancooten fired over Posh keeper Jed Steer's bar before the half hour mark, prior to Jamie Reid heading over the bar shortly afterwards.

Reid - who grabbed the winner last time Boro beat Peterborough back in August 2022 when Boro emerged 1-0 winners after a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the League Cup - showed his resilience after what looked to be a serious collision with keeper Steer before the interval, by brushing off the clash to continue.

There was still time for Roberts to fire a shot would have been a contender for goal of the season had the 29-year-old's long-range effort entered the net, rather than narrowly flying over the bar.

However, just as the teams appeared to be heading into the interval goalless, Luther James Wildin hooked Peterborough attacker Ephron Mason-Clark's trailing leg in the box, leaving Mr Brook, the referee no choice but to award a penalty.

Up steeped Peterborough left-back and captain Burrows to slot home, sending Taye Ashby-Hammond the wrong way to put the home side 1-0 ahead moments before half time.

Peterborough doubled their lead in the 64th minute after a marauding run by Posh's Manchester City loanee Katango who dovetailed well with substitute Malik Mothersile, before the right-back fired low past Ashby-Hammond in some style for 2-0.

The home side sealed an important victory when No11 Poku drilled past Ashby-Hammond following a neat move with Mothersile, who notched his second assist of a profitable evening for Peterborough - prior to Freeman's late reply.

As for Stevenage, they remain in the sixth place, the final play-off spot, a point ahead of Blackpool, with Boro facing another crucial clash on Saturday when they host Leyton Orient.

See Nub News for our coverage from the Lamex on Saturday.

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