Substitute Kyrell Lisbie scored a 22-minute hat-trick as Posh came from behind to beat Aston Villa Under 21s at the Weston Homes Stadium.
In the modern world, sometimes substitutes are described as 'game changers' or 'finishers' - well Kyrell Lisbie fell under both categories at the Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday night as he climbed off the bench to fire a 22-minute hat-trick - the first senior hat-trick of his career as Darren Ferguson;'s men beat Aston Villa Under 21s.
It was win or bust for Posh after defeat to Leyton Orient on Matchday One and after falling 2-0 behind just after the interval, it looked bleak. However, Lisbie's introduction, alongside Jimmy-Jay Morgan - who also netted - and Abraham Odoh changed the course of the contest and Posh ran out 4-2 winners to keep their qualification hopes in the competition alive.
A nod also to Academy graduate James Dornelly, who provided a hat-trick of assists as Posh turned the game on it's head in the second half.
Posh started the game brightly but aside from a looping header from Klaidi Lolos, rarely troubled the Villa goalkeeper and after being caught on the break, it was the visitors who opened the scoring through a well-taken Mohamed KONE effort on 41 minutes.
After a triple change at the break, Posh came out looking to get back into the game but more poor defending allowed Alfie LYNSKEY to race through unchallenged to fire past Reyes.
It then became the Lisbie show. First, LISBIE showed great composure and calmness to finish from close-range after good work from Donay O'Brien-Brady to reduce the arrears on 52 minutes, before LISBIE glanced home a header from a fine Dornelly cross.
Fellow substitute Jimmy-Jay MORGAN took his goal tally to four following his loan move to Chelsea on 72 minutes, calmly finding the bottom corner after another good piece of work from Dornelly.
Lisbie had a goal chalked out for offside following a cross from Ben Woods while Morgan curled wide as Posh peppered the Villa goal. It was 4-2 on 74 minutes as LISBIE provided another clinical finish from close-range after an inviting cross from Dornelly.
Morgan curled a shot inches past the post in stoppage time, while Joe Andrews fired over as Posh pressed for a late fifth.
Posh: Reyes, Johnston, Lolos (sub Odoh 46min), Khela (sub Lisbie 46min), Nevett (sub Mendonca 76min), Woods (sub Andrews 70min), Lindgren (sub Morgan 46min), O’Brien-Brady, Mills, Okagbue, Dornelly. Unused subs: Smith, Shofowoke.
Aston Villa Under 21s: Hollingshead, Borland, Routh, Wilson (sub Jenner 65min), Mulley (sub Burgess 76min), Brannigan, McWilliams, Kone, Carroll, Fortes (sub Bloomfield 90min), Lynskey (sub Cotcher 65min). Unused subs: Asemota, Boyd, Moreland.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-1 Aston Villa Under 21s
Full-time: Peterborough United 4-2 Aston Villa Under 21s
Attendance: 1,959 (149 Aston Villa fans)
Referee: Alan Young