Town 1 Peterborough 1
Town: Mark Halstead, Jermaine Grandison, Ian Black (Liam Lawrence 45), James Collins (c) (Liam McAlinden 74), Sullay Kaikai, Junior Brown, Antony Gerrard, Scott Vernon, Abu Ogogo, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Jordan Clark (Tyrone Barnett 70)Subs: Callum Burton, Zak Whitbread, Shaun Whalley, Dominic Smith
Peterborough United: Ben Alnwick (c), Michael Smith, Michael Bostwick, Erhun Oztumer, Marcus Maddison (Coulibaly 76), Ricardo Almedia Santos, Conor Washington, Harry Beautyman (Andrew Fox 66), Callum Elder, Christopher Forrester, Lee Angol (Jon Taylor 60)
Subs: Dion-Curtis Henry (gk), Jack Baldwin, Leonardo Da Silva Lopes, Miles Addison
Ref: G Horwood
Assistants: A Dale and D Benton
Fourth Official: I Rathbone
Attendance: : 5,568 (204 from Town)
Micky Mellon makes three changes from the side that drew in the FA Cup away to Grimsby on Monday night. Jayson Leutwiler is out after the knock to his head left him with concussion and in comes Mark Halstead who did well after replacing Jayson in the first half. Ian Black returns from suspension and Jordan Clark is recalled to the starting line-up with Liam Lawrence and Shaun Whalley dropping to the bench.
Town set-up with a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Black in front of the defence and Vernon in behind the front two of Collins and Kaikai.
The opening exchanges saw both teams getting the ball down and playing it around looking to build and get in behind the opposition. The home side were making the better of the early openings but Town were also creating some good openings themselves.
Town were having to defend to counter Peterborough's quick front players and when Washington was played in down the left he showed good pace, he kept him run doing bearing down on Halstead's goal but Gerrard had covered well and put in a well timed tackle to put the ball behind for a corner.
Just after the 15 minute mark Town created a nice opening, the ball was with Vernon just inside the Posh half, he held it up and then played it into the run of Grandison down the right, he curled in an inviting first time cross and Clark flicked on a header but it was blocked.
A Peterborough ball was played into the Town box, Gerrard slide in and blocked the ball but it bounced up and and Halstead was out of his goal quickly to dive at the feet of the attacker and collect the ball.
Peterborough put a corner kick into the near port and Forrester flicked it on to find Bostwick who blasted in a header from close range but Halstead was there a great reaction save to push the ball away.
Town then moved the ball quickly to create an opening themselves, the ball was with Clark who looked to burst into the box, he was fouled and after a moment to think ref Horwood awarded a free-kick. Black placed the ball and blasted in a low shot but the wall did it's job and held strong.
Town created another decent opening just before the half-hour mark, Brown had the ball on the left looking to get the ball in, he took it past his marker and then fed it to Clark, he cut past his marker and into the box before cutting the ball back for Collins, he took a touch and then curled in a shot that was not far off the top corner of the net.
Peterborough attacked down the left and looked to cut into the Town box, Grandison looked to have it covered but Washington picked his pocket and then drove in a shot towards the near post but Halstead was big to block the shot and Gerrard put the ball behind.
Black and Elder challenged for the ball on the farside and ref blew up for a foul, both players stayed down and the physios were on to attend. Elder was ok to carry on but Black stayed down and the stretcher was called for, Liam Lawrence was called into action to replace Black who left the pitch on the stretcher and was shown a yellow card for the challenge.
Town had a good chance in added time when the ball was played forward and dropped just out side the Posh box, Vernon looked to be in but Alnwick was quickly out and jumped to be big and Vernon didn't get there in time to challenge.
Peterborough finished strongly and when Maddison burst forward Collins put a foot in to stop him and concede a free-kick, it was Maddison who took it and hit in a decent effort but again Halstead was there to pull off another good save. The corner was put into the Town box and fell to Oztumer who fired in a low shot that looked to be going in but it flew just wide of the far-post.
Half-time: 0-0
Town started the half well and were keeping the ball and possession to keep play around the Peterborough goal.
Town got the ball into the Posh box and Alnwick couldn't hold, Vernon stabbed in a shot but Peterborough clear their lines and counter attack with Washington, he took the ball back down the length of the pitch but Ogogo did well to track back with him and push him wide, the ball was played back across the edge of the Town box and the shot came in but Halstead was there to save.
Jordan Clark showed good play down the left to take the ball past Smith, the Peterborough right-back pulled Clark back for a foul and a booking.
Town were awarded another free-kick halfway inside the Peterborough half, Lawrence placed the ball and took a quick kick to put Collins in behind the Posh defence, he looked to get his shot in but Alnwick was out quickly and down bravely to block the chance.
It was Peterborough who got their noses on front on 61 minutes when Town pressure broke down with Vernon losing possession, the ball was lifted in behind the Town defence to find Washington and he kept his cool to slot the ball under Halstead to make it 1-0 to Town.
Town were still pushing and probing looking for the openings to get themselves level, the ball was with Lawrence just over the halfway line and he saw the run of Collins and threaded a ball in between the Posh defence for Collins but it just had a little on it.
Grandison lost possession in the middle of the park and Forrester burst down the middle, he kept his run going and Ogogo looked to get back but in the end he clipped his heals and picked up a booking and gave away a free-kick.
Micky Mellon made his first tactical switch with just under 20 minutes remaining with Tyrone Barnett coming on to replace Jordan Clark, ex Posh player Barnett was greeted with boos from a number of the home crowd.
Town created a nice break down the left with Kaika who went past his marker and burst into the box, he then drilled in a low shot that Alnwich did well to block and the ball rebounded back but it was just behind Barnett, Peterborough tried to clear again and that fell behind Lawrence and the home side managed to clear.
Town were back on level terms on 80 minutes and it was Barnett who scored the goal, it started with the ball coming to Kaikai who drove down the left and burst into the box before hitting in another decent shot that Alnwick saved, he couldn't hold onto it though and Barnett was following up to slot the ball home for 1-1.
The game was end to end with both sides going for it and seemingly not content to see out the game a point. There were chances at both ends with balls flying into the boxes but the score was staying at 1-1.
Town broke well and there were options, the ball was played in behind the Posh defence into the corner for Barnett to run onto, he collected it and then beat Elder to give himself a run on goal, he drove in a shot to the near post but Alnwick was again there to save and keep it at 1-1.
Liam McAlinden was putting in a good performance and tirelessly running and closing looking to get Town going. The ball was outside the Posh box and McAlinden closed down and then got it out wide to Kaikai who drove down the left, he cut into the box and was sent flying, ref Horwood saw nothing and waved play on and when Posh looked to break Liam 'took one to the team' and picked up a booking.
Full-time: 1-1