Twists and turns in hard-earned draw

Photo: ALAN HOWARTH

HIGH FLIER . . . Genseric Kusunga leaps to power a header into the Peterborough net for Athletic’s second goal.

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Peterboro 2, Athletic 2

YOU can't always get what you want, but Athletic's stone rolls on regardless thanks to Genseric Kusunga's penchant for netting vital goals against one of the biggest wallets in the division.

Peterborough regularly ploughed forward with intent on a farmer's field of a pitch, and £300,000 signing Marcus Maddison made light of the conditions with a scintillating display.

His second-half free-kick did for Rachubka. The goalkeeper set himself too far forward and ended up under a well-struck but stoppable 25-yard set-piece in the 51st minute.

As he dived back, his right hand could only push the ball into the netting. At other important times in the 90 minutes, the goalkeeper's judgment was sound.

Maddison, who lit up the Conference for Gateshead last season, showed off his talents by operating with surgical precision between Posh's livewire strikers Conor Washington and Luke James.

He hit the post twice with strikes from outside the penalty area – which suggests the fate that could have befallen Athletic.

Twice Jonathan Forte was a foot away from being in prime position to land a telling effort on goal in the second half.

Athletic started well. Carl Winchester impressed with his ability to maintain possession despite heavy pressure and it was his slick pass and well-timed run from Danny Philliskirk which crafted the opening goal.

Forte is making a habit of timely arrivals and when Philliskirk slid an inviting ball across the six-yard area, he was there to convert a seventh strike of 2014-15 after only six minutes.

With players slipping over at an alarming rate, the game had a circus feel to it, but Athletic were unable to tame ringmaster-general Maddison, who had Rachubka beaten with a 16th-minute drive which hit the inside of a post before rebounding to safety.

The equaliser arrived shortly after when Michael Bostwick hit a low drive from a half-cleared corner. The same post was struck, but this time the ball nestled in the goal.

Peterborough pressed on and Washington was sent clean through after a Kusunga howler, the defender completely missing an attempted header on halfway. James Wilson was on hand to clear a poorly-struck shot off the line.

Athletic fell behind again early in the second half. Liam Kelly took a booking for the team in hauling back Maddison, but the same man picked himself up to strike home the resulting free-kick.

Athletic were toiling but Dominic Poleon had an impact on his introduction.

After Christin Burgess had his shot well stopped by Rachubka, the ex-Leeds striker forced Ben Alnwick into a sharp low save to turn the ball behind. From Mike Jones's corner kick, Kusunga rose to nod level in the 66th minute.

Peterborough took control again after the equaliser. Maddison again shaped a smart attempt against a post before Poleon scuffed a shot badly wide on cutting inside after a driving Jones run.

Posh will push for promotion this season, without a doubt. For Athletic, a point is another positive in a season steadily accumulating promise.