Sean McConville scored a late goal in a grandstand finish but Accrington Stanley slipped to a 2-1 loss to promotion-chasing Peterborough United.

While the Reds dominated the second half they couldn’t find a way past Will Norris until the 87^th minute when McConville tucked the ball home.

They pressed for an equaliser but remain in 23^rd place with four games to go.

Seb Quirk and Mo Sangare came back into the starting line-up with Rosaire Longelo coming through a late fitness test.

Peterborough started well and on eight minutes Ephron Mason-Clark’s strike was pushed out by Lukas Jensen and the ball bounced up to Kwame Poku whose goalbound header was cleared off the line by Sangare.

Aaron Pressley came close for the Reds on 18 minutes as, after intercepting a short goalkick, he forced Norris into a one-handed save.

Peterborough opened the scoring on 23 minutes when Jack Taylor found Clarke-Harris and he finished low into the corner of the net for his 27^th goal of the season.

Poku fired narrowly over from distance soon after but Posh made it two on 43 minutes when Poku fed the ball through to Mason-Clark and he fired home, with Stanley loudly appealing for off-side.

After the break, Stanley pressed as they looked to get back in it.

Ethan Hamilton tried his luck from distance but Norris got down low to collect his strike while the goalie also claimed a Longelo strike. Harvey Rodgers headed into the arms of Norris.

Just after the hour mark, Matt Lowe and Jack Nolan came on for the Reds and Stanley had the next chance, Michael Nottingham heading wide.

McConville’s powerful header was caught by Norris at the near post while Nottingham headed narrowly wide in the 81^st minute as Stanley forced the pace.

A deflected Tommy Leigh strike almost caught out Norris before, in the 87^th minute, Longelo’s cross found McConville in the six yard box and he fired home.

That set up a grandstand finish and Nolan could have equalised a minute later but his quick shot was collected by Norris.

Time ran out for the Reds as they slipped to a third successive loss.

Stanley: Jensen, Rodgers, Nottingham, Sangare, Clark, Quirk (Nolan), Hamilton, Longelo, McConville, Leigh, Pressley (Lowe)

Subs: Savin, Whalley, Butler-Oyedeji, Martin, Tharme

Yellow: Rodgers

Attendance: 2064 (333 from pufc)