Craig Davies's late drive gave Barnsley the win in a seven-goal thriller.

Jim O'Brien's shot took a wicked deflection off Gabriel Zakauni to put Barnsley ahead, with Jacob Butterfield's finish making it 2-0.

Ricardo Vaz Te's curling shot extended Barnsley's lead, before George Boyd slotted shot reduced the deficit.

Ryan Bennett smashed in a second for Posh and substitute Lee Frecklington made it 3-3, but Davies drilled in to seal a third successive league win.

If O'Brien, Vaz Te, Butterfield and Davies scored the goals, equally key to Barnsley's win was the goalkeeping heroics of Luke Steele.

The former Posh goalkeeper had already been tested by Grant McCann's twisting long-range drive when O'Brien's speculative strike deflected off Zakauni to wrong-foot Joe Lewis.

Steele then made a trio of stunning saves before Danny Drinkwater picked out the waiting Butterfield, who clipped the ball into the top-left corner.

Ten minutes into the second half Barnsley further extended their lead after Vaz Te curved the ball beyond Lewis' reach.

With 30 minutes remaining Posh manager Darren Ferguson made all three of his substitutions and soon after Boyd slotted home.

Frecklington then played a clever one-two with Bennett, who after taking a touch, fired a shot past Steele.

Substitute Frecklington scored the equaliser for Posh as he latched onto a clever pass from Boyd to beat Steele from 12 yards.

But with 10 minutes remaining Drinkwater jinked inside on his right foot to tee up the Davies, who drilled high into the net to seal a remarkable victory.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Peterborough United

  • 01 Lewis
  • 04 Bennett
  • 05 Zakuani
  • 27 Alcock
  • 30 Kennedy (Kearns - 60' )
  • 11 McCann (Frecklington - 60' )
  • 14 Rowe
  • 08 Tomlin
  • 10 Boyd
  • 12 Sinclair (Tunnicliffe - 60' )
  • 26 Taylor

Substitutes

  • 28 Jones
  • 20 Thompson
  • 16 Tunnicliffe
  • 21 Kearns
  • 23 Frecklington

Barnsley

  • 01 Steele
  • 02 Hassell
  • 03 McEveley (Wiseman - 74' )
  • 06 Foster
  • 15 McNulty
  • 08 O'Brien
  • 10 Done (Vaz Te - 53' )
  • 19 Butterfield
  • 20 Drinkwater
  • 09 Davies
  • 40 Ranger (Haynes - 74' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Preece
  • 14 Wiseman
  • 17 Addison
  • 07 Haynes
  • 18 Vaz Te
Ref: Ilderton
Att: 8,320

Match Stats

Shots

23 11

On target

14 7

Corners

8 4

Fouls

5 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:15

The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:29

Paul Taylor takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

90:00 +2:18

The ball is swung over by Tommy Rowe, Luke Steele makes a clearance.

90:00 +1:49

Ryan Tunnicliffe takes a shot.

88:58

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele. Lee Tomlin produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

87:20

Lee Tomlin has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

85:56

Tommy Rowe takes a shot. Save made by Luke Steele.

84:26

Jacob Butterfield takes a shot. Save made by Joe Lewis.

83:44

Ricardo Vaz Te takes a shot. Joe Lewis makes a save.

83:01

Jim O'Brien sends in a cross, clearance made by Gabriel Zakuani.

81:00

Jim O'Brien delivers the ball, clearance made by Ryan Bennett.

79:45

Unfair challenge on Scott Wiseman by George Boyd results in a free kick. Jim O'Brien takes the indirect free kick.

77:46

Daniel Drinkwater provided the assist for the goal.

77:46 Goal scored

Goal - Craig Davies - Peterboro 3 - 4 Barnsley Craig Davies finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Peterborough 3-4 Barnsley.

76:56

Tommy Rowe produces a cross.

75:39

Jacob Butterfield takes the inswinging corner, Craig Davies takes a shot. Clearance made by George Boyd.

74:37

Tommy Rowe takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

74:03

Handball decision goes against Craig Davies. Free kick taken by Ryan Bennett.

72:58 Substitution

Substitution Jay McEveley leaves the field to be replaced by Scott Wiseman.

72:58 Substitution

Substitution Danny Haynes on for Nile Ranger.

72:58

The ball is delivered by George Boyd.

72:34

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Joe Lewis.

70:51

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jacob Butterfield played to the near post, Headed effort from close range by Ricardo Vaz Te goes wide left of the target.

69:42

Assist by George Boyd.

69:42 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Frecklington - Peterboro 3 - 3 Barnsley Lee Frecklington finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Peterborough 3-3 Barnsley.

68:45

Centre by Tommy Rowe, Header from close range by Lee Tomlin misses to the right of the target.

67:24

Assist by Lee Frecklington.

67:24 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Bennett - Peterboro 2 - 3 Barnsley Ryan Bennett grabs a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Peterborough 2-3 Barnsley.

67:24

Centre by Ryan Bennett,

67:04

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tommy Rowe by Daniel Drinkwater. Lee Frecklington restarts play with the free kick.

65:50

Craig Davies challenges Tommy Rowe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Tomlin takes the free kick.

63:28

The assist for the goal came from Lee Tomlin.

63:28 Goal scored

Goal - George Boyd - Peterboro 1 - 3 Barnsley George Boyd finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Peterborough 1-3 Barnsley.

62:50

Corner taken by Lee Frecklington played to the near post, Stephen Foster makes a clearance.

61:02

A cross is delivered by George Boyd, clearance by Jimmy McNulty. Paul Taylor takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

59:06 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Tunnicliffe comes on in place of Emile Sinclair.

59:06 Substitution

Substitution Daniel Kearns comes on in place of Tom Kennedy.

59:06 Substitution

Substitution Lee Frecklington on for Grant McCann.

57:22

Grant McCann takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

56:32

Craig Alcock delivers the ball.

54:32

The assist for the goal came from Jay McEveley.

54:32 Goal scored

Goal - Ricardo Vaz Te - Peterboro 0 - 3 Barnsley Ricardo Vaz Te gets on the score sheet with a goal from outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Peterborough 0-3 Barnsley.

53:55

Effort on goal by Jacob Butterfield from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

52:47 Substitution

Substitution (Barnsley) makes a substitution, with Ricardo Vaz Te coming on for Matty Done.

51:53

The ball is delivered by Tommy Rowe, blocked by Bobby Hassell. Corner taken by Grant McCann from the left by-line played to the near post, Tommy Rowe has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

49:35

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann.

48:58

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jacob Butterfield, clearance made by Tommy Rowe.

48:45

Gabriel Zakuani gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nile Ranger. Daniel Drinkwater takes the free kick.

45:37

Tom Kennedy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien. Free kick taken by Stephen Foster.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:47

The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +0:52

Assist on the goal came from Daniel Drinkwater.

45:00 +0:52 Goal scored

Goal - Jacob Butterfield - Peterboro 0 - 2 Barnsley Goal scored by Jacob Butterfield from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Peterborough 0-2 Barnsley.

43:40

Craig Davies sends in a cross, clearance made by Craig Alcock. Corner taken by Matty Done from the left by-line.

42:19

Paul Taylor is ruled offside. Luke Steele takes the free kick.

41:26

Craig Davies is ruled offside. Joe Lewis takes the indirect free kick.

40:06

Paul Taylor takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

38:58

Nile Ranger is penalised for a handball. Grant McCann takes the indirect free kick.

37:26

Tommy Rowe produces a cross, blocked by Jimmy McNulty. Outswinging corner taken by Grant McCann, Ryan Bennett takes a shot. Luke Steele makes a save.

36:58

Craig Alcock delivers the ball, Bobby Hassell makes a clearance.

36:03

The ball is delivered by Nile Ranger, Gabriel Zakuani makes a clearance.

35:20

George Boyd delivers the ball, Jim O'Brien makes a clearance.

34:39

Matty Done gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Grant McCann. Grant McCann restarts play with the free kick.

33:52

Effort from outside the penalty box by Jim O'Brien goes wide left of the target.

33:30

The ball is crossed by Jim O'Brien, blocked by Tom Kennedy.

31:49

Grant McCann gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien. Daniel Drinkwater shoots direct from the free kick.

30:00

The ball is crossed by Paul Taylor, George Boyd takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

28:34

Tommy Rowe takes a shot. Blocked by Jim O'Brien. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann, Daniel Drinkwater manages to make a clearance.

27:25

Corner taken by Grant McCann, clearance by Daniel Drinkwater.

20:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jacob Butterfield on Tommy Rowe. Free kick taken by Tommy Rowe, Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

18:28

Grant McCann takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele. Grant McCann takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Craig Davies makes a clearance. The ball is sent over by Lee Tomlin, blocked by Daniel Drinkwater. Corner taken by Grant McCann from the right by-line, save by Luke Steele.

16:29 Goal scored

Goal - Jim O'Brien - Peterboro 0 - 1 Barnsley Jim O'Brien gets on the score sheet with a goal from a long way out to the top left corner of the goal. Peterborough 0-1 Barnsley.

16:22

Nile Ranger sends in a cross,

15:33

Lee Tomlin has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide left of the goal.

14:10

Lee Tomlin takes a shot. Luke Steele makes a save.

11:55

Tom Kennedy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien. Free kick taken by Bobby Hassell.

9:16

The referee blows for offside against Paul Taylor. Indirect free kick taken by Luke Steele.

8:20

Matty Done produces a cross.

6:07

George Boyd produces a left-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

5:19

Matty Done is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Joe Lewis restarts play with the free kick.

3:13

Grant McCann takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association