The Barnet FC Youth Team extended their lead at the top of the Football League Youth Alliance table to five points with a 3-2 victory over second-placed Peterborough United at The Hive on Friday.

They were forced to come from behind after the visitors took the lead on 25 minutes, with a well-struck half-volley from the edge of the area finding the back of the net through a crowd of bodies.

However, the Bees hit back almost immediately through Mathew Stevens, who continued his prolific run of goal-scoring form by outmuscling the defender to claim a bouncing ball before unleashing a powerful volley from just outside the box low past the keeper.

Barnet began to find their feet during the second half, and took the lead on 55 minutes with a lovely move that saw Brendan Ocran play in midfielder Jack Taylor, who fired a great ball across the face of goal for Stevens to nod in from close range and register his seventeenth goal of the new campaign.

Posh then equalised on 65 minutes with a well-executed free-kick on the right-hand side of goal that found the top corner from 25 yards.

Henry Newman and Ross Eames responded by making  a double change, bringing on Ryan Gondoh and Eddie Ndi in place of Shane Cojocarel and Fumnaya Shomotum as they switched to a 4-3-3 formation.

It paid immediate dividends as one of the substitutes Ndi scored a superb solo goal two minutes later to give Barnet the lead once more after winning the ball out near the right-hand touchline before cutting inside and firing a powerful low drive into the bottom right-hand corner.

The result moves Barnet five points clear of the nearest rivals, although Peterborough do have a game in hand against high-flying Luton Town still to play.

The Youth Team’s next assignment is on Thursday 25th September, with an FA Youth Cup tie away to Tilbury FC (kick-off 10:30).