Jonson Clarke-Harris took his goal tally to 23 goals for the season with 21 in the league as Posh ran out 5-2 winners at Burton Albion.

Peterborough United bounced back from the weekend’s disappointment against Cheltenham Town with a 5-2 victory against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium as skipper Jonson Clarke-Harris moved onto 21 league goals for the campaign with a double in an excellent personal display as Darren Ferguson’s men took all three points.

Goalkeeper Will Norris was well placed to keep out a driven effort from Joe Powell inside the opening three minutes as the Brewers made a confident start to proceedings. Dale Taylor was next to try his luck, but his effort was saved by the legs of the keeper who did well to ensure Taylor couldn’t guide a header over him and into the net moments later following a long ball.

The deadlock was broken on 11 minutes and it was Posh who found that breakthrough, Ogbeta strode out of defence, picked out Mason-Clark down the left, he cut inside onto his right-foot and delivered an inch-perfect cross for CLARKE-HARRIS to power a header past MacGillivray.

Jack Taylor saw a goal-bound effort strike the back of defender Hamer on 13 minutes as Posh worked the space cleverly on the edge of the box. Posh doubled the lead on 18 minutes and it was good football from Darren Ferguson’s men, which again started with positive play from Ogbeta, his run into space created room for a pass into Burrows, he picked out Ward and his cross was only half-cleared by Hamer and MASON-CLARK was there to tap into the net.

The home side should have been back into the contest moments later as a poor pass from Ogbeta created danger, Powell eventually seeing his shot kept out by Norris. The hosts reduced the arrears on 29 minutes as POWELL cracked a crisp free-kick into the bottom corner from 25-yards.

Mason-Clark was immediately denied by the Brewers keeper after a good first-time pass from Clarke-Harris within 60 seconds of the re-start. Posh restored their two goal cushion on 38 minutes and it was another well-worked Posh goal, Clarke-Harris to Mason-Clark, he picked out Ward with a glorious pass, his initial effort was saved but he got the rebound back to BURROWS who made no mistake.

Mason-Clark was denied by MacGillivray at the near post and the keeper then did well to keep out Clarke-Harris after a well-worked Posh corner kick. Mason-Clark couldn’t keep an Ogbeta cross on target as the first half moved into four minutes of stoppage time, the defender fizzing the ball at the former Barnet man who couldn’t get his body over the ball from close-range.

Burton made a triple change at the break with Charlie Kirk, Jonny Smith and Josh Walker introduced into the action. Norris did well to keep hold of a skidding Helm effort two minutes into the second half as the hosts came out invigored.

Posh made it 4-1 on 49 minutes and it was another wonderfully worked goal, Burrows picked out Mason-Clark, he waited for Ogbeta on the overlap and his low centre was turned in by CLARKE-HARRIS at the near post.

Burton pulled a goal back on 54 minutes, Norris initially kept out Kirk but the ball was somehow recycled and SMITH bundled the ball into the back of the net. Ward raced onto a flick on by Clarke-Harris at the other end, but his lob was cleared off the line by a retreating Brayford.

Norris produced a superb stop to keep out a Powell free-kick which was heading for the top corner just before the hour as this crazy game continued to baffle and bemuse in equal measure. Clarke-Harris fired over as Posh caught their hosts on the counter-attack on 63 minutes.

Posh made it 5-2 on 65 minutes as a raking pass from Taylor picked out Joe WARD who cut inside and found the bottom corner via the inside of the post with his left-foot for his customary goal against the Brewers.

Moon was cautioned for a foul on Burrows on 66 minutes by referee Craig Hicks. Mason-Clark sent an acrobatic volley over the top from a Taylor cross before Jeando Fuchs replaced Norburn. Norris did well to hold onto a Powell free-kick on 72 minutes as Burton pushed for another goal back in the contest.

However, Posh saw out the remaining minutes without any further alarm to pick up three points. 

Burton Albion: Macgillivray, Brayford (sub Shaughnessy 74min), Hughes, Powell, Taylor, Moon, Helm, Ahadme (sub Walker 46min), Gilligan (sub Kirk 46min), Hamer, Ashworth (sub Smith 46min). Unused subs: Garratt, Carayol, Macnienne.

Posh: Norris, Edwards, Kent, Taylor, Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark, N. Thompson, Ogbeta, Burrows (sub B. Thompson 83min), Norburn (sub Fuchs 69min), Ward (sub Poku 77min). Unused subs: Knight, Blackmore, Randall, Tshimanga. 

Half-time: Burton Albion 1-3 Peterborough United
Full-time: Burton Albion 2-5 Peterborough United
Attendance: 2,383 (388 Posh fans)
Referee: Craig Hicks