Pools lost out 2-1 to Peterborough United in an entertaining game at The Vic this afternoon.

Chris Turner's side fought back t o draw level after a bright start from the visitors but an early second half goal from George Boyd was enough to separate the sides.

Peterborough came out with all guns blazing and put Pools on the back foot from the off.

The visitors dominated the opening ten minutes, keeping Pools back in their own half and testing Arran Lee-Barrett with a number of shots at goal.

George Boyd was a particular threat with his pace and trickery going forward - and it was Boyd who created the first effort of the game when he burst down the left to feed the ball in for Charlie Lee to fire in through the centre but Lee-Barrett reacted quickly to hold the shot.

With Pools struggling to keep hold of the ball, Peterborough continued to push forward and Gary Liddle had to time his challenge just right to nick possession from Boyd inside the area.

Boyd tried his luck with another effort from distance but once again Lee-Barrett collected the effort.

But Pools could not keep the visitors at bay for too long and in the 11th minute Posh hit a deserved opener.

Sam Collins tripped Aaron McLean on the edge of the area, giving the visitors a free kick. Dean Keates stepped up to take the kick, lifting a perfectly-placed effort over the wall and into the top left hand corner of Lee-Barrett's goal.

The goal seemed to wake Pools up somewhat and they started to test the Peterborough rearguard, which included former Pools' man Chris Westwood.

Andy Monkhouse lifted a teasing corner in from the right which found Michael Nelson in a good position and, clearly in confident mood, the big defender sent a powerful header goalwards only to see it cleared off the line.

A Ritchie Humphreys ball over the top looked set to be heading out of play until Michael Mackay showed good pace to keep it in and nip it along to goalline for David Foley at the near post - a good one-handed save by Joe Lewis denied Pools the equaliser.

But Turner's men were enjoying a good spell of pressure and kept the chances on goal coming.

David Foley, who was enjoying an impressive game on the right wing, went desperately close to grabbing his first League goal when he met a great ball from Monkhouse on the left with a thunderous headed effort.

Unfortunately, he saw his header crash against the crossbar when the equaliser was deserved.

Michael Nelson tried to poke home the rebound but saw his effort deflected just wide of target. A corner kick just minutes later gave Pools the breakthrough they had worked so hard for; Andy Monkhouse sent another teasing ball in from the right flag that caused chaos at the near post, going through the legs of Paul Coutts before hitting the chest of Lewis and creeping into the back of the net.

A deserved equaliser for Pools before the break gave a good platform to build on in the second half as it was Turner's men who looked brightest going into half time.

But the second half started poorly for Pools as Peterborough re-took the lead within three minutes of the re-start.

A ball in field from Coutts on the right wing took a cruel deflection off Sam Collins to find George Boyd at the far post and the lively winger made no mistake as he smashed the ball past Lee-Barrett and into the top right hand corner of the net.

And once again Pools were left with work to do if they were to get anything out of this game.

The second half proved to be more even than the first in terms of possession - with neither team really dominating.

Pools had chances through Andy Monkhouse, who saw another corner kick smash against the cross bar on its way out of play, and Gary Liddle who saw Lewis collect his freekick.

Sub Mackail-Smith should have done better when he picked up a ball from Coutts inside the box but he sent his effort from close range high over the bar.

A Coutts freekick from the right of the area found Aaron McLean in space but his volleyed effort went wide of the post.

The game was a little stop-start in the second period, with referee Mr Foster playing a big part in proceedings.

And with Peterborough working hard to hold onto their lead, Pools were unable to find that crucial breakthrough, despite some strong play.

Joel Porter replaced Michael Mackay with twenty minutes left on the clock and the Aussie striker looked lively - he had a late chance to grab the headlines and a point after Andy Monkhouse put a good ball across goal for him but Porter saw his close range strike hit the crossbar and bounce out, with Lewis collecting Keigan Parker's rebound headed.

And so Posh were able to hold firm to take all three points and Pools suffered defeat despite some impressive play - clapped from the field for their efforts.

Next up for Pools is a midweek trip to face Stockport County when Turner will be hoping his side can put in another strong away day display.

Att: 3722 (337 Peterborough United)

Pools: Lee-Barrett, Sweeney, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Foley, Liddle, Clark, Monkhouse, Mackay (Porter 69), Parker
Subs Not Used: Cook, Rowell, Power, Henderson

Peterborough United: Lewis, Martin, Lee, Westwood, Zakuani, Whelpdale, Coutts, Keates, Torres (Mackail-Smith 67), Boyd, McLean
Subs Not Used: McKeown, Williams, Blackett, Green