Lee Tomlin celebrated his 30th birthday by setting Peterborough on the way to a 2-1 success against Rochdale.
Recent loan signing Tomlin struck in the 23rd minute of his second Posh league debut with a sublime curling strike from the edge of the box.
Peterborough dominated in a first half which saw fellow league debutant Daniel Lafferty's shot cleared off the line before an unmarked Ryan Tafazolli fluffed a free header.
But Rochdale posed more of an attacking threat in the second half as they were denied by a series of magnificent late saves from Aaron Chapman.
The Posh keeper denied Dale substitute Brad Inman twice in quick succession before spectacularly keeping out a thumping Jim McNulty strike at the second attempt.
And those contributions proved crucial as the home side doubled their lead when substitute George Cooper guided in a smart finish from a Marcus Maddison pass.
Chapman was powerless to prevent Manchester United youngster Ethan Hamilton marking his Dale debut with a long-range consolation in the 90th minute, but Posh held on in a nervy finish to climb back into the play-off places.