Stevenage had to settle for a point against Peterborough United after being pegged back from a two-goal lead. 

Luther James-Wildin and Ben Thompson had scored in the space of eight minutes, midway through the first half, but Posh came back after the break, Joel Randall and Rick-Jade Jones bundling efforts across the line.

Eight added minutes couldn't separate them as it ended 2-2.

Peterborough definitely deserved something on the night but after holding that2-0 lead, and even a 2-1 advantage with 10 minutes to go, the draw was a little galling for Boro.

Steve Evans opted for just the one change from the side that beat Fleetwood Town on Saturday, Posh old boy Nathan Thompson coming in for Jake Forster-Caskey in what looked like a clear tactical switch.

The former Charlton man though was not on the bench either, Harrison Neal filling in there, which suggested an enforced switch.

Whatever the reason, the first half went rather splendidly for the home Boro and yet  it was Peterborough who created the better chances, and more of them.

A bit like Saturday though, Stevenage scored at the perfect times.

Posh had really started to turn the screw in the five minutes before the goal with Ronnie Edwards firing wide, Joel Randall doing similar with a hooked volley and Terence Vancooten producing an excellent block to prevent a certain goal.

Taye Ashby-Hammond then had to pull off a huge save from Kwame Poku from around eight yards out and at that point it seemed like a goal was imminent.

Turns out it was but after a cross from the left was punched out to the edge of the area by Nicholas Bilokapic, James-Wildin stepped onto his so-called weaker left foot and leathered it into the top corner, left of the keeper.

The second came eight minutes later from a quick break.

Jamie Reid got away down the right but checked back inside and laid it square across the area for Dan Butler to strike.

That was blocked but it ballooned up and as it fell to Ben Thompson, the outcome was likely before it reached his boot.

The volley flew beyond Bilokapic and the home fans were in dreamland.

Peterborough though finished on the front foot but again, like Saturday, Stevenage were defended superbly.

That was epitomised after a corner was shovelled towards goal and bounced off the post.

Vancooten cleared off the line and as the rebound found its way to Edwards, Piergianni stuck a big leg in the way to keep the clean sheet intact.

Reid was involved twice in the early stages of the second half, handling in his own box, but only after a push, and then forcing Bilokapic into save from a snapshot.

But then Posh hit them for the goal they had been threatening, and it owed everything to the lightning-fast Ricky-Jade Jones.

He galloped away down the left and into space, crossing from the left for Randall to bundle in.

It led to another little period of pressure that was only ended when a shot hit Nathan Thompson square in the face and he was forced off after five minutes of treatment, supported off the field with jelly legs.

It took the sting out of the away side who, despite still getting forward, were being frustrated at every turn.

Their best attempt came from Ephron Mason-Clark whose stinging shot from the left was pushed away by Ashby-Hammond.

It was a corner that brought the equaliser, but Stevenage will wonder if they could have cut out the final ball back into the area from Hector Kyprianou.

He had time to float it over the Stevenage heads for Jones to bundle another one over the line.

There was half chances after that for both teams, but nothing of real danger, and both were happy to settle for a point at the end.

Match details

Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, James-Wildin, Butler, N.Thompson (Freeman 61), Piergianni, Roberts, Vancooten, Burns, Reid, B.Thompson (L.Thompson 82), Hemmings (List 73).

Sub (not used): Hegyi, MacDonald, Pressley, Neal, .

Goals: James-Wildin 22, Ben Thompson 30

Booked: Piergianni 33, Ashby-Hammond 66

 

Peterborough United: Bilokapic, Burrows, Edwards, Knight, Mason-Clark, Poku, Randall, Jones, Kyprianou, Collins, Kioso.

Subs (not used): Talley, Katongo, De Havilland, Clarke-Harris, Ajiboye, Fernandez, Wakeling.

Goals: Randall 51, Jones 81

 

HT: Stevenage 2 Peterborough United 0

Added time: 10

Referee: Sunny Gill (Bracknell)

Attendance: 5,041 (including 1,383 from Peterborough)