Peterborough United give a bleak look into the future with yet another defeat on League One's final day

There was still a strong 10k+ crowd at London Road for what was ultimately a dead rubber match on the final day but the long-suffering Posh faithful this season were served up nothing like the more free and expressive football manager and players alike spoke of following the confirmation of safety of Tuesday night.

Billy Sharp slammed in a hat-trick to close his Doncaster career in the perfect style and to consign Posh to their 23rd defeat of league season and ninth on their own pitch. The scoreline ended 3-1 with Harry Leonard briefly offering hope of a comeback.

Posh ultimately finished the season in 18th place, the exact same position as last season, albeit with two more points.

With just one win in 15 games, defeat has become second nature for Posh and the main talking points came away from the pitch. Williams caused uproar among a number of fans by choosing not to even select Archie Collins in the squad to give him a send-off after three years of stellar service.

Loanees Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Peter Kioso were also denied send-offs on the pitch as Williams instead chose to assess his options ahead of next season. The team saw four changes from Tuesday’s draw with Mansfield with Brandon Khela, Harley Mills, Lucca Mendonca and Matt Garbett replacing Collins, Jacob Mendy, David Okagbue and David Kamara.

After the first half, there was a real fear that Posh were going to end the season with two dour 0-0 draws.

There was little in the way of expression from either sides in the opening stages, with Posh hampered by livewire Bolu Shofowoke limping off after 20 minutes after a coming together.

It was Doncaster who could have justifiably felt they should be ahead at the break but, as has been the case so often this season, Posh were indebted to Alex Bass.

First he raced off his line to deny Brandon Hanlan from close range just before the half hour mark and he then bailed out his defence again as they parted to allow George Broadbent a free run on goal. With all the time in the world, Broadbent still could not slide his effort past Bass.

With this dismal season limping to a dull end, the fans were at least treated to a more lively second half.

Both sides felt they should have scored from corner in the opening minutes with Broadbent putting an effort just wide before Lisbie rose highest in the box, only to place a free header similarly wide of the post.

After 54 minutes, however, Mendonca played a loose pass, which was cut out by Broadbent, he laid it off for Sharp to run through and score the first of his goals.

Five minutes later, Posh had their best chance to level things, Lisbie saw a header pushed away right on the line by Timothee Lo-Tutala, the keeper then got up to save his follow-up effort and Leonard blasted over when he perhaps should have shown more composure.

Doncaster capitalised on the miss and Sharp was in again from a simple ball into the box, turning Mendy and finding the corner.

Leonard tried to drag Posh back into the match and rifled home from the edge of the box with 15 minutes to paly but Posh could hold three minutes.

Sharp’s movement was no match for Tom Lees playing right centre-back after Posh have made changes to chase the game.

Sharp even had the ball in the net a fourth time, for what would have been his 300th career goal but the offside flag left him stranded on 299.

The pain of defeat at the hands of former boss Grant McCann was rubbed in right at the end when 19-year-old goalkeeper Jake Oram for his professional debut as well as his son Bayley, known in the area for his time at the club’s academy and time on loan at Peterborough Sports.

The Posh players were met with boos at the final whistle and very few stayed to applaud the side during their lap of honour. Those that did were completely drowned out by jubilant Donny fans serenading Billy Sharp.

Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills (sub Jacob Mendy, 66 mins), Lucca Mendonca, Tom Lees, James Dornelly (sub Pemi Aderoju), 78 mins), Ben Woods, Brandon Khela (sub Patryk Sykut, 66 mins), Kyrell Lisbie, Matt Garbett, Bolu Shofowoke (sub David Kamara, 21 mins), Harry Leonard

Not used: Bastian Smith, David Okagbue, Cian Hayes.

Doncaster: Thimothee Lo-Tutala (sub Jake Oram, 83 mins), Jamie Sterry, Owen Bailey, Jay McGrath, George Broadbent, Darren Robinson (sub Harry Clifton, 67 mins), Jack Senior, Sean Grehan (sub Bayley McCann, 83 mins), Hakeeb Adelakun (sub Elliot Lee, 71 mins), Brandon Hanlan (sub Kasper Williams, 83 mins), Billy Sharp

Not used: Sam Straughan-Brown, Ashton Swales.

Referee: Ed Duckworth 5.

Attendance: 10,191 (1,637 Doncaster).