Match Report: City 3 Peterborough United 2

The Exeter City Late Late Show had a part two, as another stunning last minute comeback saw City beat Peterborough United in Gary Caldwell's first home match as manager.

A Tim Dieng header, Sam Nombe bundle and a second screamer in as many games from Jevani Brown saw City spin the game on its head in stoppage time to record another memorable win. 

Caldwell named one change from the win over Port Vale with skipper Matt Jay returning in the place of Nombe, while there was a welcome return to the bench for Jonathan Grounds after a lengthy injury lay off. 

Despite the Posh sitting inside the top four it was the Grecians who dominated the opening stages of the contest and it was City who almost drew first blood - after a lovely bit of intricate play down the right-hand side between Jake Caprice, Brown and Archie Collins, the ball eventually fell to the number 20 on the edge of the area. His whipped effort from 18 yards out had everyone nearly jumping for joy, but the effort sailed inches past the far post, much to the relief of Bergstrom in the United goal.

EX4 almost exploded with joy again only ten minutes later, this time the play came down the left-hand side - a cross pitch pass from Collins to Jack Sparkes had the left wing back sending Posh defender Ben Thompson for a hot dog. After a few more touches Sparkes low cross into the box found captain Jay but his side footed effort grazed the outside of the post.

Only a few minutes later and Collins was back in the action once again, searching for his third goal in as many games and aiming to repeat last week’s FA cup winner, letting loose from 30 yards. With his effort looking likely to nestle in the bottom right-hand corner, Bergstrom pulled off a fantastic save to keep it at 0-0.

From that resulting corner, City did take the lead though. It came as no surprise that it was Brown who added to his goal contributions for the season as his floated corner was neatly nestled home from Dieng's cushioned header for a deserved lead. 

With the game starting to open up, Posh captain Jonson Clarke-Harris should've equalised for the away side from less than ten yards out. Clarke-Harris had the whole goal at his mercy but miscued his header and it went out for a goal kick, with audible sighs of relief heard from the Big Bank.

Minutes later and he very quickly made amends for his miss by nestling a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner, just out of reach of the long arms of Jamal Blackman, latching on to a misplaced clearance from Collins.

After a quiet start to the second half, it was Posh who were having the better of the game as City looked sluggish with signs of panic against their higher-placed opposition. To tighten up the game, Caldwell made a change, bringing on Nombe for Jay. Sam almost had an immediate impact but was unable to direct the ball from Caprice towards goal, being beaten by Bergstrom to the delivery. 

After an edgy affair, Peterborough enjoyed a period of dangerous possession and took the lead. It was Ephron Mason-Clarke fired home after some lovely football down the right-hand side saw the ball fall to him in the six yard box to acrobatically fire home.

On came Harry Kite for Sparkes as Caldwell gave the dice another spin with five minutes to go, and it wasn't long before the shuffle came into fruition as City levelled up. 

With Caprice having now switched sides to left wing back, he worked some magic and found fellow wing-back Key on the right-hand side whose header at the back post found the newly introduced Nombe three yards out. Despite doing his best to miss, he bundled the ball home to snatch what looked like a hard fought point. 

But the Grecians weren't done. With Gary's new mantra still fresh in the players' minds, they dug deep in the final moments. As five minutes flashed up on the fourth official's board, Jay Stansfield found Brown with a deliciously weighted pass. There was only to be one outcome as League One's in-form attacker smashed the ball into the top corner to send St James Park into delirium. 

Win two of Gary's reign. 

City Starting XI: Blackman, Caprice, Key, Sweeney, Hartridge, Sparkes (Kite), Collins, Dieng, Jay © (Nombe), Brown, Stansfield

Subs not used: Lee, Harper, Chauke, Beardmore, Grounds

The Posh Starting XI: Bergstrom, Watts, Butler, Edwards, Fuchs, Taylor, Clarke-Harris ©, Mason-Clark, Burrows, Jade-Jones, Thompson

Subs not used: Blackmore, Fernandez, Kyprianou, Mensah

Referee: Tom Reeves

Attendance: 6489 (408 away)