Shrewsbury Town 2 Peterborough 4 - Shrewsbury relegated to League Two

They had gone into the game needing to win and hope others lost to avoid the drop today.

But despite a spirited display in an entertaining game, they came up short against a Peterborough side who confirmed their place in the League One play-offs with the win.

After admissions by the board about the over-reliance on loan players this season earlier this week, manager Mike Jackson named a starting XI containing only one loan player - Sheffield United's Shaun Miller.

And the hosts got off to a flying start when Jon Taylor headed home his ninth goal of the season from Joe Jacobson's sixth-minute cross.

It was a thumping back post finish from a flowing Town attack but Town had Connor Goldson's goal line clearance to thank after he denied Nicky Ajose's 11th minute drive.

But Conor Washington put the visitors back on level terms two minutes later with a firm close range finish from a right wing cross.

Goalkeeper Chris Weale got a good hand to the effort and probably should have kept it out.

But he could do nothing about Washington's second on 21 minutes, after Tommy Rowe had found a defence-splitting pass to put him in on goal.

Peterborough made it 3-1 six minutes later through Lloyd Isgrove hammered home at the second attempt after Washington had hit the bar.

Britt Assombalonga then missed two good chances to extend his side's lead drawing a solid save from Weale and then heading a better chance over the bar.

And Town cut the deficit in the final minute of normal time at the end of the first half when Tom Bradshaw slotted home from Ryan Woods' cross.

Town substitute Jermaine Grandison almost created an equaliser soon after the re-start when Bobby Olejnik fumbled his cross, but Mark Little cleared.

Eaves should have done better from a Joe Jacobson free kick on 57 minutes though, getting only the faintest touch from a central position in the box.

Peterborough should have gone 4-2 up when Dave Winfield brought down Washington in the box on the hour mark.

But Weale made a great save to his left to deny the Posh top scorer from the spot.

At the other end Taylor and Summerfield drilled decent chances wide while Goldson had to be alert to deny Rowe's effort on the line.

Kgosi Ntlhe also missed a couple of decent chances to extend the visitors' lead missing the target with a shot from a tight angle and a header

Ryan Woods was not far away with a long range effort for Town which went just over on 77 minutes.

But Peterborough substitute Josh McQuoid made it 4-2 with a clinical 90th minutes finish on the counter attack.

Defeat confirmed Town's departure from League One while victory for Stevenage at home to Walsall means Town fall to bottom of the division with one game to go.