- Home campaign ends for Under-21 side
- Tiring Reds fail to make Peterborough pay
- Defeat leaves Crewe in 8th
Crewe Alexandra suffered a third straight defeat in their final home game of the 22-23 Professional Development League season.
Cain Keller's strike on the hour mark ended up being the difference between the two teams on Friday afternoon.
With the first-team playing on Monday 8 May (12.30pm), Mike Jackson was only able to use first-year professionals Sean Lawton, Lewis Billington, Connor Evans and the experienced David Richards.
The contest started out evenly with a lack of penetration on either goal but it was Richards who had to make the earliest save. He shuffled his feet quick enough to claw, an effort that was hit into the ground and over everyone's heads, off the goalline.
Matus Holicek and Owen Lunt were able to link up in the left-hand side of the penalty area but the Slovakian was only able to fire over with his chance.
The attacking midfielder then turned to provider laying the ball across the box for Max Woodcock whose well hit strike was blocked by a crowd of Peterborough defenders.
Just before the break there was heavy downpour of rain which came from nowhere but quickly collected in certain areas of the pitch.
During the half-time interval the ground staff were on the field of play to stop the game from being abandoned.
The Alex introduced Muhammed Jatta for Woodcock as Jackson looked for a reaction in the second period.
It was Richards again who had to make a great save from point-blank range to stop David Kawa from breaking the deadlock.
However it wasn't enough when the ball was drilled across the box for Keller at the back post to tap into the back of the Crewe net in the 60th minute.
It took the Alex until the 83rd minute to test the Peterborough stopper but Lawton's curling shot with his weaker foot was tipped around the post brilliantly by Lakin.
This seemed to give the young Reds confidence with Nathan Robinson having two opportunities to level the scoring. His first going narrowly wide of the target and the second being cleared off the line by Alfie Williams.
Jackson's team conclude their season at Cardiff City on Tuesday 9 May (1pm).