Peterborough United lost their unbeaten pre-season record after an alarming display of inaccuracy up front

Posh dominated large chunks of the contest at National League opposition, but were alarmingly poor when crossing or shooting so chances came and went either side of the home side’s 76th minute winner.

That came at the end of a mini-spell of disruption for Posh soon after they’d taken their second-half substitution total to nine. Visiting goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi saved well from close range to thwart Tom Cursons and he then denied the same player in a one-on-one opportunity, but the home striker finally got his revenge when again racing clear unopposed and finishing into the corner.

Posh had chances to equalise, most notably in the 85th minute when excellence from Ejiro Abbey teed up trialist winger Wanya Marcal, but he steered his shot from eight yards straight into the arms of a grateful ‘keeper. Three minutes later Marcal, whose desire to impress should have increased with the latest Kyrell Lisbie news, scooted behind the home defence, but curled wide from a tight angle.

Posh had bossed the first period completely. Time and time again the wide players Owura Edwards and Bolu Shofowoke took up great attacking positions, but an accurate cross or cut-back eluded them.

The only big chance of the half arrived on four minutes when an Edwards cross was pushed out into a dangerous area by home ‘keeper Luke Foxon, but he recovered well to thwart summer signing Harrison Jones from close range.

Posh were again missing several senior players. Millwall-bound Lisbie was absent as was midfielder Ben Woods who was ill. Defenders Tom O’Connor, George Nevett, Sam Hughes and Ro Adebisi are all recovering from injuries.

Ndi played the full 90 minutes for Posh with Joe Andrews (centre-back) and Carl Johnston (central midfield) again starting the game in unfamiliar positions.

Before the break Andeng Ndi was hardly involved apart from when joining in some passing moves, but Faxon was hardly extended either, after his early save. The keeper had to handle shots from outside the area from Johnston and Weir, but he didn’t have to move to make the saves.

Edwards lively when running in behind, but the timing of his attempted crosses was suspect, to the obvious irritation of Harry Leonard on a couple of occasions. A low corner did reach Leonard, but his shot was blocked before the centre forward couldn’t quite reach a Weir cross.

There were three cautions in the first-half with two home players collecting yellow cards for hacking Shofowoke down.

Posh made four changes at the interval and had two quick chances to take the lead. Chris Conn-Clarke forced a save from Faxon before Shofowoke side-footed over from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy after a defensive blunder. Substitute Brandon Khela then curled just wide from the edge of the penalty are and Shofowoke had a shot blocked as Posh continued to dominate.

But a second batch of changes altered the flow of the game for long enough for Boston to pinch an unlikely win.

Posh starting XI: Collin Andeng Ndi, James Dornelly (sub Freeman, 46 mins), David Okagbue (sub Lucca Mendonca, 46 mins), Joe Andrews, Evan Weir (sub Harley Mills, 63 mins), Carl Johnston (sub Brandon Khela, 46 mins), Harrison Jones (sub Wanya, Marcal, 63 mins), Chris Conn-Clarke (sub Eddie Fox, 63 mins), Owura Edwards (sub Ejiro Abbey, 63 mins), Bolu Shofowoke (sub Pat Sykut, 63 mins), Harry Leonard (sub David Kamara, 46 mins).

Unused subs: Alex Bass, Harry Bushell, Oliver Arber.

Goal: Boston – Cursons (76 mins).

Cautions: Posh – Dornelly (foul).

Boston: Pozo (foul), Wood (foul), Rooney (foul).

Referee: Declan Bourne 7.

Attendance: 1,435 (476 Posh).