BUOYANT POSH PUT VALIANTS TO SWORD
PETERBOROUGH kept their Wembley momentum going by carving out a 3-0 home win against lowly Port Vale on Wednesday night.
Posh made the breakthrough in first half stoppage time when Joel Randall’s long-range effort deflected in. Skipper Harrison Burrows then followed up his EFL Trophy final heroics by netting the second on 56 minutes, scoring from the spot after Ryan Loft’s foul on Josh Knight.
Burrows’ cross was headed into his own net by Alex Iacovitti in the 86th minute to wrap things up. The defeat saw the Valiants slide back into the relegation zone on goal difference.
Peterborough’s victory boosted their automatic promotion hopes and another bonus on the night for them was that second-placed Derby were held to a goalless draw at their Trophy final opponents Wycombe.
There were also half a dozen third tier games the previous night. Stevenage reignited their play-off bid with a 2-1 home success against fifthplaced Barnsley. Adam Phillips gave the Tykes the lead on the halfhour but Steve Evans’ men hit back to take the spoils.
Northern Ireland international Jamie Reid drilled home the equaliser in first half stoppage time and Dan Butler netted with a free-kick for the winner on 51 minutes.
Blackpool also gave their play-off prospects a lift with a 1-0 derby success against relegation-haunted Fleetwood. Jake Beesley headed home in the 22nd minute and the Seasiders could even afford the luxury of a Shayne Lavery penalty miss in the second half as Cod Army keeper Jay Lynch denied him.
Leyton Orient and Exeter shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Ollie O’Neill scored direct from a corner to give the O’s a first half lead and they appeared to be cruising when sub George Moncur doubled the advantage on 64 minutes.
However, the game changed when Orient, having used all five subs, lost Brandon Cooper to injury. The in-form Grecians stormed forward and rescued a point thanks to late goals from sub Millenic Alli (88) and Will Aimson (90+2).
Charlton and Wigan also played out a 2-2 draw, Charlie Kelman notching a double for the visiting Latics.
Reading banished any lingering relegation fears with a solid 2-0 success at out-ofsorts Bristol Rovers. Sam Smith (8) and Lewis Wing (45) were on target for the Royals.
Already-relegated Carlisle put a dent in Cheltenham’s survival hopes with a 1-0 away victory. Sam Lavelle struck from close range a few minutes before the break.