For once the result didn't matter.
Posh lost their final League Two match of the season, but there was still a party atmosphere in the final minutes at London Road as promotion was celebrated in style by a crowd estimated at 10,500.
Darlington scored with their only two shots of the game to take full advtantage of a pretty poor home effort.
Ricky Ravenhill's third minute strike was deflected into the back of the net off Craig Morgan and Micky Cummins added a second six minutes after the break after Adam Newton had been caught in possession.
Posh never looked up for the challenge as Craig Mackail-Smith suffered a rare off day in front of goal.
Aaron Mclean saw a shot cleared off the line by former Posh team-mate Alan White in the first-half, while George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith were thwarted by substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak.
First-choice 'keeper David Stockdale limped out of the action in the 12th minute after a strong challenge from Mclean.
Mclean was presented with the Evening Telegraph player-of-the-year accolade before the game by fan Lee Jackson who won a competition for the honour.
Posh
Joe Lewis
Adam Newton
Craig Morgan
Chris Westwood
Tom Williams
Chris Whelpdale
Dean Keates
Micah Hyde
George Boyd
Aaron Mclean
Craig Mackail-Smith
Subs
Charlie Lee
Scott Rendell
Alfie Potter
Kieran Charnock
James McKeown
Updates will appear here later.
Sunday, 11am: Posh open-top bus paradeWhat do you think of Posh's season? Add your comments below, email our sports team: alan.swann@peterboroughtoday.co.uk.The full article contains 271 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
