The stage had been perfectly set. Three points against a quality side in front of a bumper London Road crowd would clinch automatic promotion and cap one of the most memorable seasons in Posh history.

Sadly only the part about Stockport's quality proved accurate although to see and hear some home fans after the game, you'd have thought Posh had been relegated rather than seen promotion delayed by a week.

The hard-to-please should remember that it's now one defeat in 18 League Two matches. They should also remember that Stockport are League Two's best side on current form and they were in the perfect mood to act as party poopers.

The visitors grabbed the points with a soft goal scored by Tommy Rowe on 58 minutes, but they also missed two absolute sitters in a desperately disappointing second half for Posh followers.

In contrast all the half-chances Posh created were headed ones which showed how difficult even the newly-styled 'best player in League Two' and his mates struggled to open up a massed defence.

To be fair George Boyd was his usual flamboyant self and if a goal was to arrive he would probably have created it, but only twice did Posh play their way behind the Stockport defence and each time the cross was comfortably cleared.

"We didn't open them up as often as I would have expected," Posh manager Darren Ferguson admitted.

"We also played in a way I didn't expect towards the end."

Ferguson was referring to the long, high balls which regularly attracted the attention of an outstanding visiting defence, although the manager's substitutions also led to a lack of width and subsequent midfield congestion.

Posh were at their best in the latter part of the first half once Jamie Day had headed a Liam Dickinson header off the line following a corner.

The ball was then sticking to a forward line which included Liam Hatch making his full debut, recalled captain Micah Hyde was running midfield and Chris Whelpdale was sending over any number of numerous crosses as well as a shot which impressive keeper John Ruddy handled immaculately,

The best chance fell to Chris Westwood at the end of the half, but his close range header from a Dean Keates' free-kick was tame and straight at Ruddy.

Westwood went on to have one of his unhappiest days in a Posh shirt. At the start of the second half his attempt at a pass down the line was charged down by Anthony Pilkington who stormed clear before making a hash of a simple pass to the unmarked Jason Taylor.

Taylor made instant amends by slipping the ball to Rowe for the only goal of the game and once Whelpdale's header from inside the six-yard box following a great cross by Craig Morgan had struck the top of the cross bar Posh rarely threatened.

Substitute Charlie Lee also clipped the bar from a Day free-kick, but Stockport defended with such skill and determination Posh ran out of attacking ideas well before the end.

Boyd's beautifully-struck 20-yard drive five minutes from time was unfortunately directed too close to Ruddy.

Indeed the visitors should have added a second goal in injury time as Dickinson, who was far too fleet of foot for Westwood all afternoon, raced clear, but tried to pass instead of shooting past the exposed Joe Lewis.

It was all immensely disappointing for the majority in a crowd in excess of 10,000.

Sadly the fans also failed to rise to the occasion as Stockport's supporters were comfortable winners of the off-the-field battle.