The Barnet FC Youth Team bounced back in emphatic style from their FA Youth Cup defeat to Southend on Thursday, defeating title rivals Peterborough United 5-2 to maintain their seven point lead at the top of the table.

Having played against Southend United in the FA Youth Cup just 36 hours before, Barnet made a couple of changes in midfield with Elliot Harris and Edi Ndi, returning from a long-term injury lay-off, pushing up to join lone striker Mathew Stevens in a 4-3-3 formation.

The match started brightly on a superb pitch at Nene Park Academy, with both teams coming out of the blocks quickly.

Peterborough took the lead after a quarter of an hour with good combination play resulting in Jonny Edwards slotting home.

Barnet quickly replied with a slick move down the left-hand side involving Keir Dickson and Mathew Stevens before Nana Kyei calmly slotted home the finish to make it 1-1

The Bees then took the lead as neat one-touch passing down the left sent Kyei through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He was brought down, but after the referee played advantage George Booker was able to stroke into an empty net for his first goal for the club.

The lead was to be short-lived however, as Barnet switched off and conceded straight from the restart to make it 2-2.

Once again Barnet bounced back, and dominated the closing stages of the first half before Booker, Wesley Fonguck and Jack Taylor combined well to set up Harris at the back post to make it 3-2 at the break.

Barnet continued their dominance at the start of the second half, counter-attacking with speed and showing excellent creativity when in possession of the ball. 

The visitors won a penalty following an unfortunate handball by the Peterborough full-back which Kyei calmy converted to the right of the goalkeeper to make it 4-2.

He then rounded off an excellent day both for himself personally and the team as a whole by completing his hat-trick with a close-range finish after excellent work by Stevens, Jack Taylor and Shane Cojocarel.

Following the defeat of Posh, MK Dons have now moved into second place, seven points behind Barnet with a game in hand.

Next up for the Bees is a game at home to Watford at The Hive on Saturday morning, kicking off at 10:30.