POSH will be in no mood to go rushing back to Rushden anytime soon after the Diamonds ended their unbeaten four-match run with a 2-1 win at the Nene Park Stadium on Saturday.

Despite fielding no less than six debutants, the home side kept their cool in sweltering heat as well-taken goals for Jon Challinor and Dean McDonald saw them secure the Maunsell Cup and leave Fergie's men looking hot but not overly-bothered by their first pre-season defeat.

With the serious business of League One football just over a fortnight away, the result of a friendly match which clearly meant far more to the non-league Northamptonshire side than it did to their increasingly illustrious visitors, was really neither here nor there.

Not that Posh played poorly. Indeed had Aaron Mclean been able to convert a couple of decent chances in the wake of Dean Keate's ferocious free-kick equaliser after the break, it would have been five wins from from five going into tomorrow's clash with the Hammers at London Road.

As it was those few fans who had made the short trip from Peterborough did at least get to see Russell Martin make his 'UK debut' and he did not disappoint, putting in the kind of display to suggest that the former Wycombe man can make the right-back spot his own when the shooting starts in earnest.

And while nobody likes to lose - especially in a local derby - even Posh's highly competitive manager was philosophical in the wake of this less than crushing defeat.

"I think there were a lot of good things to take out of the game despite it ending in defeat," said Ferguson.

"Nobody likes to get beat - least of all me - but credit to Rushden. We had them under the cosh at times but they never stopped working.

"We struggled to penetrate them at times and that was a bit disappointing but I am pleased with where we are at regarding our preparations for next season.

"Russell played today after picking up a slight ankle injury in training and I was very pleased with his performance. He gave us a lot of energy down the right flank.

"We would have liked the win but in the end it was not to be so we will be re-focusing on the West Ham game which should be a good test for us as they are bringing a very strong squad to London Road."

Having started the game with something close to a full strength line-up - the absence of Jamie Day and new boy Sergio Torres aside - many expected Posh to cut through Rushden with a diamond-edged attack which yielded 52 goals last season.

But with Craig Mackail-Smith and McLean looking a little out of sorts, the overlapping runs from Tom Williams and Martin which characterised the early exchanges produced little end product despite some decent deliveries into the box.

Both strikers had good early chances which on less low key occasions they may well have tucked away as Micah Hyde and Keates ran the show through the middle. And George Boyd ran the ball with his usual confidence from his familiar left wing berth.