Jack A Payne For Vale

Peterborough United consolidated their position at the top of Sky Bet League One table following a comfortable 3-1 victory over Port Vale with Marcus Maddison and Jack Payne vying with each other for the goal of the game.

Both scored stunners with Maddison finding the back of the net for the second time in a week following his move from Gateshead.

It was a fairly subdued start to the action, with the first effort on goal coming in the 15th minute with Michael O'Connor flashing a shot well wide of the target from 25-yards.

Conor Washington created the first opportunity of the game for his side moments later, turning well to create the space following a Taylor header, only to see his shot saved by the legs of Neal before James blazed the rebound over.

Maddison wanted a penalty kick on 23 minutes as he took a tumble in the box after nutmegging the full-back, but the referee waved away the protests.

The deadlock was broken just after the half hour mark and it was a stunning goal from Marcus MADDISON who fired a stupendous volley into the top corner after collecting a Santos throw in.

Payne saw a volley deflected wide of the target moments later as Posh went in search of a second goal with Vale rocking. A Maddison free-kick was easily gathered by Neal on 41 minutes after he was felled by Jennings who was cautioned.

Taylor slid a shot wide of the target after good work from Washington on 58 minutes. Kyle Vassell replaced James on the hour mark in the first Posh substitution.

Taylor fired over on 62 minutes after excellent play from Anderson, Santos and Vassell in the build-up. Kane Ferdinand replaced Anderson on 68 minutes.

On 72 minutes, Posh doubled the lead as a free-kick from Taylor was met by VASSELL who planted a header past goalkeeper Neal for his fifth goal of the campaign.

On 79 minutes, Posh made it 3-0 and if Maddison's goal was a stunner, this was off the scale. Skipper Jack PAYNE unleashed a ridiculous effort from 30-yards which screamed into the top corner past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Neal.

The visitors pulled a goal back on 84 minutes as substitute SLEW rifled home with his left-foot, the ball crashing into the back of the net via the underside of the bar.

Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Baldwin, Taylor, Payne, James (sub Vassell 60min), Washington, Burgess, Anderson (sub Ferdinand 68min), Santos, Maddison (sub McCann 82min). Unused subs: Walker, Brisley,  Luto, Barnett.

Port Vale: Neal, Dickinson, Robertson, McGivern, Pope (sub Williamson 72min), O'Connor (sub Slew 46min), Brown, Jennings, Moore (sub Dodds 72min), Marshall, Veseli. Unused subs: Johnson, Duffy, Birchall, Dodds, Williamson, Daniel.

Attendance: 6,024 (262).