Peterborough United competed well at Stockport County, but the same old failings let them down

A 1-0 defeat was harsh on a managerless side given very little chance before the game, but while daft goals continue to be conceded and chances are spurned at the other end, plaudits rather than points is the best they can hope to achieve.

The only goal of the game, soon after the re-start, was the result of a comedy of errors, while Harry Leonard’s golden chance to equalise eight minutes from time was thwarted by the boot of goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond. On such fine margins do positive results and confidence depend.

Posh enjoyed enough possession to create other good chances, but crossing with accuracy appears to be beyond the current squad. Apart from the first involvement of substitutes Chris Conn-Clarke and Ethan Williams when the latter’s fierce centre was reached by another replacement Danny Ormerod who lunged at full strength without control and the ball whistled past a post.

There was a pleasant pre-match surprise for Posh fans with the presence of on-loan Aston Villa centre-back in the starting line-up. Posh came to a belated agreement with the Scotland Under 21 side to include a player whose absence would have been a huge blow against League One’s highest scorers. As expected 18 year-old Lucca Mendonca was alongside him.

The side that started the 3-1 Trophy win over Colchester on Tuesday was selected again with full-back James Dornelly returning to the substitutes’ bench.

And Posh started well and, although they were pushed back regularly as the half wore on, they defended their penalty area well. Goalkeeper Alex Bass was called into difficult action just once when reacting smartly to thwart Kyle Wootton from close range. Wootton was pouncing on a rebound after his initial shot had been well blocked by Mendonca.

Harry Wood sliced a shot wide at the end of the same move and was also denied by another Mendonca intervention after working space to gain a clear shot at goal. Corners were a particular problem for Posh, but they were quick to pounce on the second ball to clear.

Posh passed the ball okay and made many interceptions but fashioning a chance proved difficult until a smart Leonard sent Bolu Shofowoke into a 40th minute foot race he was always going to win against Eoghan O’Connell. The 17 year-old could have gone down as O’Connell harassed him into the penalty area, but he stayed on his feet long enough to force ‘keeper Ashby-Hammond into a save with his feet.

Posh would have been satisfied with their first 45 minutes, but seven minutes into the second-half they were behind. Bass and Mendonca repelled the first shot at goal, but a scuffed clearance from Ben Woods and a kindly ricochet enabled Wootton to tap into an empty net.

Posh responded well to the setback. A Ben Woods cross drifted just out of Leonard’s reach, Shofowoke failed to find the unmarked Edwards when two on-one. Woods then shot over and Shofowoke tested Ashby-Hammond, but not as well as he should have done.

County became more ragged and more defensive as the game wore on and Post kept persevering. A terrific pass from Conn-Clarke found Leonard, but his poke at goal was stopped.

And that was pretty much that. FIve defeats and five points in eight games awaits a new manager, as does a trip to Leicester City.

Posh: Alex Bass, Carl Johnston, Josh Feeney, Lucca Mendonca, Harley Mills, Liam Kelly, Ben Woods (sub Chris Conn-Clarke, 78 mins), Harry Ashfield (sub Harrison Jones, 68 mins),, Owura Edwards (sub Danny Ormerod, 62 mins), Bolu Shofowoke (sub Ethan Williams, 78 mins). Harry Leonard

Unused subs: Collin Andeng-Ndi, Evan Weir, James Dornelly

Stockport: Luca Ashby-Hammond, Lewis Bate (sub Lewis Fiorini, 66 mins), Ethan Pye, Eoghan O’Connell, Jack Diamond (Sub Ethan Ennis, 66 mins), Ollie Norwood, Ryan Glover (sub Josh Dacres-Cogley, 82 mins), Harley Wood (sub Jason Adigun, 54 mins), Kyle Wootton, Ben Osborn (sub Mamadou Jobe, 82 mins), Kyron Gordon.

Unused subs: Callum Camps, Mikael Mandron,

Stockport goal: Wootton (52 mins).

Posh cautions: Johnston (foul), Mendonca (foul), Mills (foul).

Stockport cautions: Adigun (foul).

Referee: Ross Martin 8.

Attendance: 9, 647 (Posh to follow).