THE scoreline might not suggest it, but when John Coleman said his side had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, he couldn't have been more right.

Accrington Stanley exploded out of the blocks in the first half and a lacklustre Peterborough could have had no complaints if they had found themselves 4-0 down at half-time.

Ian Craney was in particularly blistering form right from the kick-off, opening up the game with two decent efforts at goal before firing the Reds in front midway through the first half.

Paul Mullin thought he'd doubled their tally but had his effort ruled out for offside, while Andy Todd and Sean Doherty were both denied by the woodwork.

But Peterborough weren't about to sit back and take similar punishment after the break, and when striker Danny Crow was introduced at the start of the second half, manager Keith Alexander proved they weren't too Posh to push as he sent the substitute up front alongside eight-goal Trevor Benjamin and new loan signing Aaron McLean.

And the move paid dividends as all three got on the scoresheet to turn the game on its head.

But it could have, and should have, been so different.

While loaned out Gary Roberts was strutting his stuff at Turf Moor for Ipswich, Craney seemed to have slotted into the vacancy with consumate ease.

After scoring his first goal from open play against Blackpool in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last week, Craney was ready to celebrate another, and set about his task in the opening two minutes, first firing wide of the near post from just inside the box on the right channel, then cutting in from the left before firing over from 20 yards.

The midfielder-come-striker then opted to pass to Doherty, but with his back to goal, he struggled to get his shot off. Instead, he released Andy Todd, bursting down the right, and the winger forced a good low save from goalkeeper Mark Tyler.

Shane Huke had Peterborough's first effort on goal after 18 minutes, but it was only a half chance as he dragged the ball well wide of Ian Dunbavin's right hand post.

But it was just reward for Stanley's initial efforts when Craney hit his third in four games, latching on to Leam Richardson's clearance and holding off Guy Branston before finishing brilliantly, burying the ball in the bottom left corner.

That goal served to spark The Posh into life and captain Branston was unlucky to send a free header wide of the far angle from Jamie Day's corner.

Richard Butcher then had an 18-yard shot on the turn comfortably kept out by Dunbavin before Stanley regained the initiative, and Mullin was unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside following a great build-up down the left when Craney slipped the ball through to meet Doherty's intelligent diagonal run.

Stanley were forced into a defensive change when Robbie Williams pulled up with a groin strain and was replaced by Phil Edwards.

But it didn't disrupt their attacking flow and a Todd rocket cannoned off the crossbar.

After Dunbavin saved low from Richard Butcher's drive, Doherty's delightful 25-yard chip from the left flank deserved better than to bounce off the far angle and out to safety.

Craney was gifted the best chance before half-time but, after getting the better of Tyler in a one-on-one, he struggled to free the ball from between his feet and, with the goalkeeper on his backside, somehow missed an open net.

Michael Welch made a brilliant challenge on Butcher to prevent Peterborough going in level seconds before the break.

Their luck didn't change at the start of the second half as Todd was twice denied by Tyler's legs from close range.

And, as predicted, Coleman's men were punished for such profligacy.

Peterborough sparked into life through two dangerous Jamie Day corners, the first of which saw Branston plant a header into Dunbavin's hands. The Stanley stopper then denied Butcher, but from another Day inswinger Branston's downwards header rippled the net. However, the referee had spotted an infringement in the area and disallowed the effort.

But, just as mystifyingly, the referee blew for another foul in the Stanley penalty area four minutes later. The Yorkshire official penalised Welch for holding Futcher, immediately pointed to the spot and Benjamin rifled the penalty down the middle of the goalmouth.

Stanley built a good move in response with Todd and Craney linking up to release Mullin but the ball flicked up off the back of Mullin's heel and into Tyler's arms.

Peterborough broke through loan signing McLean. The Grays Athletic front man, who had been a Reds target since the summer, struck his shot at the advancing Dunbavin, but substitute Crow was first to the rebound and stabbed it into an empty net.

McLean then got his chance to rub salt into the wounds by scoring a third goal in four minutes for the home side. The former Aldershot striker, who is expected to make his move to London Road permanent when the January transfer window opens, stood up to Edwards' challenge and beat Dunbavin from a tight angle.

Mullin swept a chance wide as Stanley tried to recover from the shock, and Craney eventually handed them a lifeline with 11 minutes to go thanks to his party piece.

Dean Holden almost turned the ball into his own net and, from the resultant corner, Craney scored straight from it.

But substitute Crow wrapped up the win as his right foot drive was helped on its way into the net by Peter Cavanagh's head.

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