By Gerry Prewett.
The Gas and the Posh have had 45 previous meetings Rovers have won 14, there have been 15 draws and Peterborough have come out on top 16 times. In East Anglia Rovers have won 5, drawn 8 and lost 9 times.
The first meeting in Peterborough took place on 6 December 1952 in a 2nd Round FA Cup tie with Rovers coming out on top 1-0 with a Vic Lambdon goal in front of a 16,000 crowd.
The first League meeting in Peterborough was on 10 September 1962 with the home team winning 1-0, getting revenge for a defeat at Eastville just 6 days before.
On 25 February 2006 Rovers recorded their last victory at London Road 2-1, after Junior Agogo had scored Rovers first goal he was sent off shortly after Richard Walker’s goal gave the Gas a 2-0 lead. Dean Holden pulled one back for the Posh but it was not enough.
On the opening day of the 2006/07 promotion season 5 August 2006 United dealt out Rovers a 4-1 thrashing. Like most teams Rovers started the season full of expectation. What they didn’t expect was to find a ‘borough team on fire. Jamie Day, Richard Butler and Simon Yeo all scored in half an hour of devastation to give Posh and unassailable half-time lead. Despite a reply from Sammy Igoe, a Lloyd Opera finish saw an emphatic win for the home team
On 6 September 2008 there was a remarkable televised game at London Road. Craig Mackail-Smith scored a hat-trick for the Posh as his team three times held a two goal lead. Aaron McLean and Scott Rendell also notched for the home team whilst Steve Elliott, Jeff Hughes, Rickie Lambert and an own goal Shane Blackett provided a none goal feast and a 5-4 home win.
Rovers visited the ABAX Stadium on 4 August 2018 the opening day. Matt Godden opened the scoring inside the first minute with a fine header from Jason Naismith's terrific cross from the right. The advantage doubled in the 26th minute with another headed goal as towering ex-Dundee midfielder Mark O'Hara classily steered in a delivery from left-back Colin Daniel.
Liam Sercombe was denied by a last-ditch Ryan Tafazolli block early in the second half before Rovers finished on the attack during four minutes of stoppage time.
Captain Tom Lockyer halved their arrears when nodding in a Chris Lines corner from close range but the final whistle rescued Posh as they held on.
The last time Rovers visited the ABAX Stadium was on 26 January 2021. Rovers took the game to the home team in the opening half and a volley from Sam Nicholson came back off the post. The Gas limited the Posh to weak goalward strikes after former hero Jonson Clarke-Harris was set through for the home side in the early stages.
In the second half Siriki Dembele rounded Joe Day before sliding an effort goalwards, but just as he turned to celebrate Alfie Kilgour emerged to hook the strike away.
The late stages tested the Gas' resolve but they returned home with a point after battling through to the final whistle.