FERGIE'S POSH REIGN IN THE RAIN

PETERBOROUGH manager United Darren was a relieved man Ferguson after his side overcame Stevenage - and monsoon conditions - to earn their second Southern Group D victory.

- John Lyons

Goals from Malik Mothersille (12 minutes) and Jack Sparkes (43) put Posh in a commanding position, but there was a danger it would all be for nothing when play was suspended for 30 minutes due to torrential rain with 25 minutes still left to play.

However, the sides were eventually able to return to the field of play and finish the tie. Posh lead the way in their section with six points from their two matches, while Stevenage lie third with three points.

"At one point I thought it was going to get called, but thankfully the ref gave it as much time as he could," Ferguson told Posh+. "I'm delighted with the players. We scored two really good goals and I thought we controlled the game much better in the second half.

"We looked a real threat on the counter-attack and it's a clean sheet the first of the season. It doesn't matter what you are playing in." A strong contender for game of the night was the Southern Group B tie between Crawley and AFC Wimbledon. It looked as though the visiting Dons were cruising to victory when they opened up a three-goal lead courtesy of Callum Maycock (44), Matty Stevens (55) and James Tilley (57).

However, the Red Dragons roared back with efforts from Ronan Darcy (71 pen), Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (80) and Josh Flint (87) to draw level. There was still time, though, for a sting in the tail as Joe Pigott notched the winner for Wimbledon in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

"The game was too open for my liking, but we came here to win the game and get through the group," admitted Dons boss Johnnie Jackson.