Peterborough United score four in the first-half, but lose the second half to Peterborough Sports

Goals from Sam Cartrwight and George Cooper plus a couple of own goals enabled Posh to turn round 4-1 in front against top local non-league side Peterborough Sports, but they were far less convincing after the break as the lower ranked side claimed the only goal of the second period.

Posh enjoyed the perfect start as centre-back Cartwright nodded home Cooper’s corner in the second minute and it was soon 2-0 as Sports’ keeper Lewis Moat failed to deal with Siriki Dembele’s stinging shot and Cooper was on hand to tap home.

Cooper was enjoying himself and on 27 minutes his corner was unfortunately deflected into his own net by Sports centre back Richard Jones.

But Sports, who lost this fixture 9-0 two seasons ago, were not going to lie down tonight and within two minutes a fine cross from Dion Sembie-Ferris was turned home by Jordan Macleod.

Posh dominated the opening period and Dembele was twice denied by Moat, while Cooper came close to adding his second.

Posh did find a fourth goal on the stroke of half-time when skill and pace from Idris Kanu persuaded Sports defender Brad McGowan to turn a cross past his own ‘keeper.

Posh changed their entire team at the break and struggled to reach the same level of performance although there were some promising moments from a young centre-back trialist.

Mo Eisa tested both Moat and his ex-Posh replacement Lewis Elsom, but it was Sports who had the last word when Cameron Johnson converted from close range 10 minutes from time.

Posh first half: Gyollai, Cartwright, Blake-Tracy, Kent, Thompson, Taylor, Boyd, Cooper, Kanu, Rolt, Dembele. Sub | A.Jones.

Posh second half: Pym, Trialist, Beevers, Mason, Ward, Burrows, Reed, Barker, Tasdemir, Eisa, R.Jones.

Peterborough Sports: Moat, Jarvis, McGowan, R. Jones, Bucciero, Lawlor, Sani, McCammon, Sembie-Ferris, Macleod, M. Jones. Subs: Hilliard, Elsom, Stevenson, Malone, Griffiths, Johnson, Sparrow, Moreman.

Goals: Posh - Cartwright (2 mins), Cooper (16 mins), R. Jones (og, 27 mins), (McGowan og, 45 mins).

Sports - Macleod (37 mins), Johnson (80 mins).