In an even first half Saints passed up two good chances, as Jimmy Armson and Cosmas Matwasa fired wide and Danny Lewis had to save well at the near post before Peterborough took the lead early in the as second half and Roger Johnson’s side could not find a way back tasting defeat as a 19 game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end.

“This was a million miles from where we have been,” Johnson said. “They won every aspect of the game so fair play to Peterborough, I have no argument over the result. We had a strong side out today that I had every faith would go out and put on a performance but we were a long way off that today.”

Armson’s chance on 12 minutes came as he turned on a loose ball from a corner 6 yards out and shot cleanly but inches wide with Peter Crook rooted. Martin Woods’ free-kick found Matwasa round the back of the defence but his first time effort was just too high.

Sports started the second half as they did the first, taking the game to the visitors. Player-manager Michael Gash got his shot away at close range bringing a save from Lewis before Jordan Cullinane-Liburd’s last ditch defending saved the day before Maniche Sani headed the hosts in front in the 49th minute.

Debutant Jordan Crawford doubled the lead on the hour with a clinical finish after good work by Josh McCammon. Saints staged something of a revival chasing the game with substitute Levi Amantchi bringing a save from Crook pushing the ball onto the bar and then a double chance on 80 minutes as first Amantchi’s shot was parried by Crook and Callum Stead’s follow-up effort was saved as the visitors drew a blank and with The Turbines finishing the game strongly to deserve their win.

“We’ve lost one game. It is not as if we are struggling, we are still in a good place,” Johnson continued. “Perhaps some players just expected it to happen today. I am utterly disappointed but we are still a good team and I am looking for a response next Saturday.”

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Calder, Murombedzi, Cullinane-Liburd, Dean, Matwasa, Woods (Richards 64), Rooney, Armson (Amantchi 46), Smart (Stead 64). Subs unused: Yussuf, Worby.

Peterborough Sports: Crook, Bazeley, Fox, Fryatt, R.Jones, Kennedy, Crawford (Williams-Lowe 75), Lawlor (Camara 82), Gash (M.Jones 85), Sani, McCammon. Subs unused: Johnson, Elsom.

Referee: Matthew Scholes Assistants: Karl Donaghy and Lewis Saunders-Johnson

Attendance: 477

PIC: Glenn Alcock