Harry Beautyman netted twice as Posh record third successive victory.

Peterborough United made it three wins in a row as two goals from Harry Beautyman earned Graham Westley's men a comfortable 3-0 victory over struggling Crewe Alexandra at the ABAX Stadium.

Beautyman, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Friday, bagged a brace, his third goal in a week, as the Railwaymen were stunted at a sunny ABAX.

Michael Bostwick planted a header straight at goalkeeper Ben Garratt from an outswinging Marcus Maddison corner on three minutes.

Chris Forrester sent a swerving shot just over the bar on seven minutes after good persistence from Shaquile Coulthirst in a wide area.

Garratt did well to gather a dipping Maddison free-kick on 12 minutes with Bakayogo cautioned for the foul in the first place.

The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes as a quickly taken corner kick caught the visitors out, Maddison displaying good trickery in the box and then poking the ball for BEAUTYMAN who curled into the top corner past Garratt for his second goal in as many games. It takes Maddison's assist count to 14 for the campaign and was good timing for Beautyman who turned 24 on April 1st.

Beautyman repaid the favour to Maddison moments later, but the winger fired wide with his right-foot from a tight angle.

Billy Bingham curled a left-footed free-kick wide of the target on 19 minutes after a foul by Baldwin. Fox was cautioned on 22 minutes for a culmination of fouls.

Shaquile Coulthirst was denied by a fine stop from Garratt on 25 minutes after a jinking run before Angol dragged a shot just wide of the near post after dispossesing Fox.

Charlie Kirk fired wide from 30-yards for the Railwaymen as they continued to pose a threat. However, Posh doubled their lead on 39 minutes as BEAUTYMAN was in the right place to stab home from close-range after Williams' had seen his header blocked superbly from point blank range by Garratt.

Maddison was finding a lot of joy down the right and he ran onto an Angol pass on 43 minutes, but his low right-footed effort was tipped around the post by the overworked Garratt.

Ricardo Almeida Santos replaced Fox on 51 minutes as Graham Westley made his first change of the afternoon.

Maddison struck the inside of the post on 57 minutes after Angol and Coulthirst linked to great effect down the left hand side. The hardworking Williams was replaced by Jon Taylor on 62 minutes as Posh made their second switch.

Posh made it 3-0 on 67 minutes and what a goal it was, a superb raking pass from one side of the pitch to the other from Maddison, ANGOL collected it in his stride and then smashed home past Garratt and into the back of the net for his second goal in as many games.

The final change by Westley was made on 73 minutes as Forrester made way for Simon Gillett. Substitute Jon Taylor collected a fine raking pass from Beautyman on 78 minutes, but the winger fired over from just inside the box.

Maddison was denied by Garratt on 85 minutes after cutting inside onto his right-foot as Posh threatened a fourth goal against a dispirited Crewe side.

Beautyman was denied a hat-trick by a fine stop with the legs of Garratt after the keeper had initially punched clear. Maddison was then denied by a fine save from Garratt with Angol standing offside as the ball rolled into his path.

Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Bostwick, Baldwin, Fox (sub Almeida Santos 51min), Beautyman, Forrester (sub Gillett 74min), Angol, Coulthirst, Maddison, Williams (sub Taylor 62min). Unused subs: Tyler, Oztumer, Nichols, Samuelsen.

Crewe: Garratt, Turton, Guthrie, Davis, Dalla Valle (sub Cooper 74min), Fox, Bingham (sub Jones 60min), Ainley, Kirk, Hitchcock (sub Haber 46min), Bakayogo. Unused subs: Richards, Ray, Nugent, Cooper, Udoh.

Half-time: Peterborough United 2-0 Crewe Alexandra
Full-time: Peterborough United 3-0 Crewe Alexandra
Attendance: 4,881 (129 Crewe fans)