The Valiants fall to defeat at Weston Homes Stadium
The hosts started on the front foot with a number of early chances. First came Ephron Mason-Clark who looked to curl one low into the far corner but it rolled wide of Connor Ripley’s goal.
Ricky-Jade Jones, Kwame Poku and Joel Randall all had efforts in the following minutes but none of them were on target to test Ripley in the Vale goal.
Gavin Massey had the first opportunity for the Valiants on 26 minutes as he cut in on his right foot from the left and aimed for the top right-hand corner but his strike went over the bar.
Randall gave Posh the lead with the last kick of the first half following a corner. It was played short as Randall saw his effort from outside the area take a wicked deflection and fly into the Vale goal to give the home side a one goal lead at half time.
Peterborough doubled their lead on 56 minutes from the penalty spot. Ryan Loft fouled his man in the area following a corner as the referee pointed to the spot. Harrison Burrows sent Ripley the wrong way to give the hosts breathing space.
Posh looked to add another four minutes later when Archie Collins tried a strike from range but it sailed over the bar.
On the 75th minute mark another corner for the Posh caused problems. The set piece was played short and then crossed towards the back post where Josh Knight was waiting but his header flew over the bar.
Ripley prevented a Peterborough third with a terrific save as he tipped Kwame Poku’s shot over the bar with eight minutes to go.
That third goal arrived four minutes later when a cross from the left was headed into the Vale net by Alex Iacovitti.
Peterborough United | Jed Steer, Jadel Katongo, Harrison Burrows, Ronnie Edwards, Josh Knight (89’ Romoney Crichlow), Ephron Mason-Clark, Kwame Poku, Joel Randall, Ricky-Jade Jones (75’ Malik Mothersille), Hector Kyprianou, Archie Collins.
Unused Subs | Nicholas Bilokapic, Ryan De Havilland, Jonson Clarke-Harris, David Ajiboye, James Dornelly.
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity, Ryan Loft (60’ Uche Ikpeazu), Funso Ojo (46’ Ethan Chislett), Conor Grant, Jason Lowe, Alex Iacovitti, Gavin Massey (60’ Jack Shorrock), James Plant, Rhys Walters (67’ Baylee Dipepa).
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Jensen Weir, Jesse Debrah.
