What a great game football is. You come back from a goal down, concede a late equaliser which is gutting enough, and then the ref loses his marbles and awards a penalty in stoppage time, which is then missed!

This game had it all: controversy, goals, attacking football, mistakes, a dodgy penalty, scuffles, flying tackles, and even an off day from Faz!

Posh started very brightly and fizzed the ball around nicely on a near perfect playing surface, nicely soaked with water after some heavy rain. Platt seemed to thrive on the balls played up to him and won most headers, and it was he who had the first chance of the game, when played through on the left of the area his shot beat the keeper but was cleared off the line and onto the bar by an excellent piece of defending.

Posh continued to press, and were well on top after the first 5 minutes of pressure from Bratford, and looked to be comfortable in possession as well. Newton and Willock were linking up well, while Thompson and Woodhouse were in control of the midfield areas. Faz sent in a couple of decent early crosses and Kennedy popped up pleasingly to support the left side of the attack, but the home side were defending for their lives.

Then, out of nowhere Bratford took the lead. Nicky Summerbee was starting to see a lot of the ball as City played on the break, and he brushed faz aside with Kennedy nowhere to be seen defensively, and did what he has been doing for years and delivered a superb cross which was only half cleared and as the ball spun in the penalty area, Dean Windass fired it into the net under Tylers body with some power. City had another 5 minute spell from here, but the Posh defence were having nothing of it, as Ireland and Burton held strong and put some muscle into their game.

Not long after, Windass and Ireland went up to contect a ball in the centre circle and the new Posh centre half absolutely ripped through the ex Middlesbrough man leaving him in a heap, from which he never got up and was stretchered off. Unfortunately for Posh, his replacement was exactly the sort of player you dont want running at your 2 big centre halves: small, pacy and skillful. Windass we could have handled a lot better.

Summerbee was always their outlet ball and was enjoying a worrying amount of space, with only Faz seemingly prepared to close him down, and he started to deliver some telling bals into the box. Fortunately, the Posh rearguard were on form and defended well, with Tyler again showing a keenness to collect the ball in the box.

Posh pulled themselves back into the game from a corner, and it was the new Clive Platt who thumped the ball home with a header that had far too much on it for the City keeper, although there was that half second where you thought he had saved it before the arms went up in celebration. Posh went on to dominate possession and play some good football, with Newton and Kennedy on the flanks, and Willock causing all sorts of problems with his blistering pace.

1-1 at half time, and neither team made changes to personnel. The second half was played in similar vein, with Posh looking comfortable on the ball, and dictating the play, whilst City played counter attack. The wide open pitch suited both sides crisp passing and pacey players. Willock had a couple of fantastic runs into the box but the final ball was either cleared or not quite where it should have been.

Bratford made a change, and as the half wore in I commented to Bourne Posh that it was noticeable how we had stopped Summerbee playing, so much so that shortly after he was subbed. Posh had managed to notice that he was seeing too much ball and stemmed the flow of ball into him, a testimony to Woodhouse and Thompson for all their industry in midfield.

Thompson was up for this one, and the tackles were flying in now. He was booked for a lunge along with Faz who took out Summerbee before he was taken off with a petulant trip out of frustration.

Posh won a series of corners and throws for all their industry as Bratford seemed to lose the plot totally, and from an Andy legg throw, Platt rose and flicked on, the ball fell to Kennedys right boot and he despatched it sweetly into the far corner on the volley from 12 yards to put Posh 2-1 up. Cue more Bratford changes, and the temperature on the pitch was rasied a fre more degrees.

Burton by now was running the game. His aggression and gamkesmanship were not appreciated by the home support, but the ref was falling for it, and City were getting nothing. Ireland picked up a yelow for a blatant but perhaps necessary foul as City broke again, and then Woodhouse was involved in a nasty incident which bizarrely saw the City player booked.

Posh were playing with a passion, but were starting to get forced further and further back. Off came Faz and on came Clarke to add some spice to the attack, and the old man looked like a 16 year olf running around wiht zest and enthusiasm, and City were again rattled.

However, it became noticeable that Posh were choosing to drop deeper and soak up the pressure. No matter how confident you are in defending, you need an out ball, and at every set piece City won, Posh pulled 11 men back behind the ball. I personally dont agree with this, as if you keep 2 men upfield, the opposition have to keep at least 2 players back, and keepers will tell you they hate lots of bodies aroound them in the box. However, Posh continued to drop, and at times Platt was playing sweeper, and at one stage I commented how it was like watching Ajax of 74 with players popping up in all sorts of positions but covering for others. Newton was at one stage sweeper, and having a superb game along with Ireland and Burton, who was doing well in keeping calm at times!

However, you always felt that City might get a goal if we didnt get a third. On came Constantine for Willock, although I felt Platt looked more tired after working his balls off for the team, so here we had 3 strikers in the pitch all asked to do defensive duties. Personally I would have prefered to see an extra midfielder thrown on to try and stem the flow of balls forward, but Fry and Gould obviously had faith.

Sadly, that all went out the window in the very last minute when a desperate and wild shot hit david Wetherall on the head and flew past Tyler into the top corner. City were level and there were 3 minutes of time added on to play. Not good news, especially as City had builit up quite a head of steam and were throwiung literally everything at us. The pace of the game was incredible, Posh were clinging on all of a sudden. Newton had to make 2 desperate but brilliant tackles but we couldnt get into their half.

Then with time running out, a ball into the box, a collision between a City forward and a Posh defender and the ref decided it was good enough for a penalty. Very harsh decision, and it felt to the Posh fans like the game was lost. However, the penalty was put wide as Tyler dived the right way, and it felt better all of a sudden.

Yes, you would have settled for 2-2 before the game, because for all Bratfords troubles and relegation last season, they will be one of the divisions strong sides of that there is no doubt. They have some fine players, and lots of pace through the team.

However, Posh went up there and played well, and bossed the game for long periods. With Faz having an off day, it looks promising. Willock caused City so many problems but wasnt able himself to find the honeypot position, whilst Platt put his head and feet onto everything and led the line supremely. Thompson seems to have rediscovered his form and is tearing around the midfield to good effect, although I am still hopeful of more from Woodhouse who again was quietly effective.

However, in Adam Newton we have a player of clear quality and someone who has found his confidence after a promising season, and I predict will go on to be a star man for Posh this year. His all round ability in defending and supporting the attack, as well as positional play make him the perfect wing back.

Ireland and Burton seem to be a strong pairing, with Legg being effective between them as sweeper, although Burton still manages to wind up everyone inside the stadium including a number of Posh fans, particularly the one from Potton! However, he is good at what he does and as long as he keeps his head and plays within the laws of the game, he will be a good defender for us.

The big worry for me however is the tactics. Whilst clearly there is an organisation to the play and a game plan, once we get in front we seem far too keen to sit back and let the opposition play. We are actually a very attacking team and have the players to play that way, so why suddenly change once we get in front. I believe we would have won the game had we carried on playing the same way. Ok, City raised the tempo and pressured us, but not having a single player upfeidl to hit a ball to at every single set piece in the last 20 minutes is not acceptable and puts us under self generated pressure. I hope this will be addresses, because when it is, I can only see positive things for this team.

4 points out of 6 against 2 of the fancied teams is good work, albeit a little frustrating in this game which we all felt we should have won. Colchester are flying at the top of the League, and that is where Posh head to on Saturday. A horrible little ground with an unwelcoming atmosphere, and traditionally a place where Posh dont do well. Lets hope it all changes with a decent result.

TONYS MARKS:

Tyler 7 - little to do but seemed comfortable with everything. No chance with the goals.

Burton 8 - strong commanding game at the back, and a real intimidating factor.

Legg 7 - did ok, swept up to reasonable effect and another goal from one of his throws. He even managed a couple of trips forward to good effect. Seems to have calmed down as well which is good.

Ireland 8 - didnt miss a trick, held the line and won virtualyl everything that came his way. Excellent signing.

Newton 9 - the best player on the park last night, and rapidly emerging as a Posh star. All round play was superb.

Kennedy 7 - delivered some decent crosses, but was absent for the opening goal. Scored with his weaker foot, looks to be a reasonable acquisition.

Woodhouse 7 - worked hard in closing down, and got forward a few times, but is not running the show like he can do.

Thompson 8 - superb work rate and fantastic commitment. Loves a tackle, and organises well.

Farrell 5 - not his night. Nothing went right for him after Summerbee pushed him out of the way for the opening goal. Will play much better than this.

Willock 7 - ran hard and chased everything, caused City lots of problems but needs to get in with more threatening chances in the honeypot position.

Platt 8 - led the line, headed everything and everyone, put himself about and scored too. Looks like a totally different player, but tired late on and should have been replaced instead of Willock.