Venue - Saltergate

Date - Saturday 11th May 1991

Posh said goodbye to the Fourth Division with a sensational second half revival at Saltergate.

Two-second half goals, both from defenders, clinched promotion to the Third Division. The vital equaliser came from George Berry 17 minutes from time. Berry's strike completed a superb second half fight back after a disastrous start.

Posh's army of travelling fans was stunned into silence when Chesterfield struck twice in the opening nine minutes. Huge gaps in the midfield and defence allowed Dyche and Plummer to wreak havoc in the fourth minute. Caldwell, avoiding Gavin's lunge, broke along the by-line and crossed for Plummer to head home. Five minutes later Bradshaw and Berry converged on a cross. Berry's attempted clearance rebounded off Dyche's knee and into an unguarded net.

Shell-shocked Posh struggled in all departments and at that point it seemed as if the doors to the Third Division had been firmly slammed in their face. By half time Posh, who earlier had looked completely overawed by the occasion had began to regain their composure.

Turner did some tough talking in the dressing room at half time and ordered his players to go out and fight for their pride. Ten minutes after the break defender Dave Robinson, playing only his sixth league game this season, powered in a header from Luke's corner in the 55th minute. The massed ranks of Posh supporters sensed a dramatic turn around and roared the team on.

Their effort was rewarded in the 73rd minute. Sterling's long throw to the near post was flicked in by George Berry. Robinson Luke and Culpin all went agonisingly close as Posh pushed for a winner. Halsall and Morgan were outstanding in mid-field as Posh dominated the second half.

For the last ten minutes Posh kept possession, having been fed news by Chesterfield substitute Bryn Gunn, the former Posh defender that Blackpool were losing at Walsall. On the final whistle city fans swarmed on to the pitch and Saltergate echoed to the chants of "Posh are going up" Players were chaired off the pitch shoulder high, every one of them having etched their names in to Peterborough United history.

Posh fans outside the ground celebrated Italia 90 style as the streets around Saltergate echoed to the sound if car horns. One Posh banner summed it all up 'PERFICK POSH'

Chris Turner completed a remarkable success story at Saltergate on Saturday. In just 111 days Turner transformed Posh from mid table play off chasers into an outfit bound for the Third Division. He took charge on January 21 with Posh 9th in the league, Thirteen wins, seven draws and two defeats later Posh were promoted.

Amid scenes of wild celebrations at Chesterfield, Turner and his players took the acclaim of 5,000 Posh fans. Among them was Noel Cantwell a great influence on Turner's playing and managerial career that steered Posh to promotion in 1973/74.

Posh travelled north knowing victory would ensure promotion, but they seemed nervous and tense in the pre match warm up. 3.09pm confirmed worst fears with Posh trailing 2-0. But Captain Mick Halsall and midfield partner Darren Morgan led the revival.

Posh emerged after the interval a changed side. Little did they know that Blackpool was losing 2-0 at Walsall? Dave Robinson powered in a header and George Berry headed in Sterling's long throw for the equaliser.

Their main rivals all won, except Blackpool, who dropped three places into the play-offs.

Teams:

Chesterfield - Leonard, Brien, Ryan, Rolph, Rogers,McGugan, Dyche, Caldwell, Plummer, Williams, Hewitt. Subs: Benjamin, Gunn.

Peterborough United - Bradshaw, Berry, Butterworth, Halsall, Robinson, Crosby,Sterling, Morgan,Riley,Gavin, Luke. Subs: Culpin, Bremner.