Kwame Poku scored with the penultimate kick of the game to snatch a 2-1 victory for Peterborough United in League One - and leave Stevenage with nothing.

A second goal in a week from Louis Thompson had seemingly rescued a point for Boro, who had fallen behind on five minutes when Donay O'Brien-Brady was given way too much time to find the bottom corner.

Thompson smashed in an equaliser midway through the second period to leave it at 1-1 and there were plenty of chances for the visitors to London Road to grab another but they were denied by a combination of strong defending, bad luck and poor finishing.

But with both sides giving it their all, a corner right at the death in stoppage time wasn't cleared and Poku guided it home through a crowd of players.

The temptation to keep a winning side from the success against Wrexham must have been high because that is what Alex Revell did, the only change to the squad being the introduction of Elliott List on the bench instead of Ken Adoh.

An early chance for Jordan Roberts hinted at more positivity, and then they defended like kids.

Donay O'Brien-Brady had so much time on the edge of the box, he could turn first onto his weaker right foot and then think 'nah', going back onto his left side to fire low inside Murphy Cooper's near post.

The fact that nobody came close to putting him under pressure would have had the away bench seething. Five minutes later they would have been cursing their luck.

Nathan Thompson put in a block at the back post that was not needed, the linesman flagging for a goal kick, but before the decision could be made, the defender was down and Lewis Freestone was stripped for action immediately.

The goal had given the home side some confidence but slowly Stevenage got the ball back.

It took them a little while to craft anything but when they did, the floodgates threatened to open.

Jamie Reid got into space down the right side and in behind the defence.

His shot was powerful but blocked well by Jed Steer in the Peterborough goal. Louis Thompson's follow-up was deflected behind by Archie Collins.

And from Eli King's set-piece, Carl Piergianni's nod down landed at the feet of Roberts, free in the six-yard box.

He swung for it and missed it completely.

Still Boro came and this time Jake Young wriggled in from the right and stepped round Steer.

He rolled it towards goal but before it got there Jack Sparkes came in with a perfectly timed block.

Even this corner brought a chance though, Young's nod down landing in the middle and giving Freestone a headed opportunity.

He was underneath it though and Steer recovered by then to claim.

To perhaps emphasise the fact Posh had been struggling slightly, they made two changes at the break, bringing on Joel Randall and James Dornelly.

And the pair combined to set up Poku, his shot blocked well by Freestone.

Randall then had an effort as Poku led a three-on-three break, curling it with the outside of his right foot wide of the far post.

But those were soon forgotten as Stevenage continued to put huge pressure on their hosts' goal.

Young had been robbed by Emmanuel Fernandez way too easily when seemingly through and then Reid was presented with the ball as Peterborough tried to play out from the back.

His shot took a deflection off a defender and needed Steer to tip it over the bar.

Posh did not heed that warning though and minutes later Reid won the ball high up the pitch again.

This time his low cross was just in front of Tyreece Simpson but Boro recycled it and a clever little reverse pass gave Thompson sight of goal.

He made no mistake with a thumping drive into the far corner.

Reid was then denied by Steer after running along the byline and it seemed Stevenage would run away with it.

But with the game stretched beyond all recognition, both teams had their moments to win.

Two fell to the wrong people, Stevenage's to Freestone after a knock back by Roberts, his shot was scuffed, and then Fernandez found himself in nose-bleed territory for Posh.

Freestone's block took it over Cooper but wide of the post.

That was seemingly that but as the clock headed to the end of four added minutes, Dan Butler conceded a needless corner.

He was furious that nobody had told him he had time to clear it and his anger would have been doubled when they failed to clear and Poku sent London Road into dreamland.

There was time to kick off but nothing else.

Match details

Peterborough United (1) 2 Stevenage (0) 1

Stevenage: Cooper, Wildin, Butler, N.Thompson (Freestone 11), Piergianni, Roberts, Reid, Phillips (Freeman 87), L.Thompson (Kemp 87), King (White 62), Young (Simpson 62).

Subs (not used): Ashby-Hammond, List.

Goals: L.Thompson 64

Booked: Butler 24, Freestone 70

 

Peterborough United: Steer, Curtis, Collins, Wallin, Mothersille (Randall 46), Poku, Jones, Hayes (Dornelly 46), Sparkes, O'Brien-Brady (De Havilland 78), Fernandez.

Subs (not used): Bilokapic, Odoh, Nevett, Ajiboye.

Goals: O'Brien-Brady 5, Poku 90+5

Booked: Wallin 68, Collins 77

 

Added time: 2+4

Referee: Alex Chilowicz (USA)

Attendance: 8,018 (including 775 from Stevenage)