Cheltenham Town fell to a 3-2 defeat against Peterborough United at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium to start off their Sky Bet League One campaign.

An own-goal from Posh defender Frankie Kent opened the scoring, with a well-taken Alfie May strike making it two for the Robins before the interval. 

Jack Marriott struck just before the hour mark for Peterborough, with Jonson Clarke-Harris proving to be the vital player for the away side, with his brace securing them the victory in the second half.

Four new signings were involved for the Robins, with Luke Southwood starting in goal along with former England C team international Ryan Jackson and the returning pair Taylor Perry and Dan Nlundulu.

Southwood was in early action for the Robins as a long-range effort from Clarke-Harris called him into action, making a strong stop to deny the forward.

Peterborough’s early pressure continued with Ricky-Jade Jones heading goal wards in the opening exchanges, firing the ball over the Optimising IT stand in the process.

Nlundulu took the game to the visitors immediately in the first half, linking up well with goal scorer May in the opening exchanges as the Robins looked to take an early lead.

The Southampton loanee was key to the first goal as he turned to get away from his man before his low shot was turned home by defender Kent.

Cheltenham looked to double their lead straight away, with Nlundulu once again causing problems, this time his ball saw Perry's shot go just wide of the post, almost knocking over the stanchion behind the goal.

Wade Elliott's side did then double their lead as May latched on to a wayward pass from Josh Knight before running through and taking the ball around Lucas Bergstrom in the Posh net and blasting his shot low into the goal.

The Posh looked to reply instantly as Clarke-Harris latched onto a Bergstrom ball over the top, however, he couldn’t keep his chip down and it hit the roof of Southwoods net.

In an attempt to get back into the game, Peterborough made a triple change at half time, bringing in Joe Thompson, Joe Ward, and Marriott.

The changes would have the desired effect for the visitors as Wards low cross found Marriott at the front post who turned home to pull one back for the Posh.

The Robins tried to respond immediately with Elliot Bonds playing a delightful through ball to scorer May, who was denied from a tight angle by Bergstrom.

Peterborough would then grabbed their equaliser through Clarke-Harris as Charlie Raglan's clearance fell fortunately at his feet before he blasted home from inside the area.

Not long afterwards, the visitors would take the lead as Ward's cross would find Clarke-Harris in the box who doubled his tally and gave the Posh the lead for the first time.

In an attempt to respond, May found himself through again, it took a special stop from Bergstrom to deny the Robins a chance to go level.

Cheltenham continued their late pressure, as Raglan got on the end of a corner, his header back across didn’t find a teammate and was eventually cleared.

The final chance of the game fell to substitute Callum Ebanks after Nlundulu held off the defender, unfortunately his drilled shot was saved by Bergstrom and the game ended in a defeat for the Robins.

ROBINS: Southwood(GK), Long©, Williams(Taylor 75), Raglan, Freestone, Sercombe(Adshead 81), Nlundulu, May, Jackson(Perry 75), Bonds(Chapman 81), Perry(Ebanks 75 )

Subs not used: Chapman, Adshead, MacDonald(GK), Horton

PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Bergstrom(GK), Edwards, Knight, Kent, Fuchs(Thompson 45), Taylor, Clarke-Harris©, Szmodics, Burrows, Jones(Ward 45), Randall(Marriott 45)

Subs not used: Ajiboye, Tomlinson, Kyprianou, Blackmore(GK)

POTM chosen by Elijah Willow – Dan Nlundulu

REFEREE: T Nield

ATTENDANCE: 4,425 (1,050 away)