Chris Conn-Clarke scored two goal of the season contenders, including one from the half-way line as the Posh Under 21s beat Barnsley 6-3 in Professional Development League action.
It was an afternoon to remember for Chris Conn-Clarke as he scored five times in a 6-3 victory for the Peterborough United Under 21s against Barnsley on Monday afternoon.
Conn-Clarke was unplayable, hitting a first half hat-trick with two of his goals real eye-catchers. One came from the halfway line and the other was reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal, when he spun around the defender to finish.
Patryk Sykut was the other man to get on the score-sheet as a front three, which also included Benji McWilliams-Marcano, caused carnage for the Tykes.
Sykut and Sam Hughes both featured for 45 minutes in pre-planned half-time changes with Donay O'Brien-Brady also getting minutes under his belt.
Lead Under 21s Coach Sam Gaughran said: "It was a crazy game but one we thoroughly deserved to win. We caused them so many problems in the first 15 minutes of the game, so much so that they changed their shape because they couldn't cope with us.
"The front three were excellent and Chris Conn-Clarke was unplayable. He scored five and two of them were brilliant goals. Defensively, the goals we conceded were disappointing, I think that was more a concentration issue, the game was easy at times for us."
Posh are next in action at Newcastle United in the Premier League Cup on Friday evening.
Posh: Smith, Freeman, Joseph, Christoudias, Claxton (sub Arber 46min), Hughes (sub Bushell 46min), Conn-Clarke, O'Brien-Brady (sub Jones 80min), Sykut (sub Simmons 46min), Fox, McWilliams-Marcano (sub Mlityalwa 80min). Unused subs: Crozier, Bucknor.