Peterborough Edge Past Leyton Orient with Last-Gasp Winner on Boxing Day

27 December 2025 Football Matches

Late Drama Seals Fourth Consecutive Victory for Peterborough

Declan Frith hit a dramatic stoppage-time winner as resurgent Peterborough made it four wins on the spin with a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient on Boxing Day at the Weston Homes Stadium. The narrow victory highlighted Peterborough’s impressive turnaround under manager Luke Williams and kept them clear of the League One relegation zone.

Match Significance and Context

Peterborough United return to Sky Bet League One action on Boxing Day as Leyton Orient visit PE2 (3pm) and it will be a momentous occasion with the club celebrating our 3,000th League fixture. Going into the match, the hosts currently sit two points clear of the relegation zone and nine points off the playoffs in 16th, while the visitors are just three points ahead of them in 11th.

The stakes were high for both teams, with a win over the O’s could lift Posh further up the league table with a game in hand, but equally, defeat could see them return to the relegation zone. History does favour the Posh, with Peterborough only suffering one defeat to Leyton Orient in their last seven meetings across all competitions.

Recent Form and Key Players

The Posh then suffered four defeats in a row before bouncing back with league victories over Reading, Northampton Town and Port Vale. Harry Leonard has been key to Peterborough’s recent success, with the striker scoring five goals in his last four league games.

For the visitors, Leyton Orient ended a run of four games without a win last week when they produced a major upset by beating promotion chasers Bradford City 2-1. In-form Dom Ballard netted a brace, stepping up in place of injured striker Aaron Connolly.

Looking Ahead

This vital Boxing Day victory consolidates Peterborough’s position in League One and demonstrates their resilience under Williams’ management. The four-match winning streak has transformed their season, providing breathing space from the relegation battle. For Leyton Orient, the defeat represents a setback after their impressive win over Bradford, though they remain comfortably mid-table as the busy festive period continues.