ACCRINGTON Stanley were well beaten as Peterborough ran riot to go top of League One.

Stanley were brought crashing back down to Earth after stunning table-topping Ipswich last time out, with Posh’s fearful front three of Marcus Maddison, Mo Eisa and Ivan Toney causing mayhem.

Goals from Maddison, Toney, Frankie Kent and Siriki Dembele did the damage at London Road as Darren Ferguson’s men leapfrogged the Tractor Boys to move to the summit.

Defender Aji Alese, on loan from West Ham, made his first start of the season, whilst Zaine Francis-Angol returned for his first league appearance in over a month as John Coleman made two changes.

Suspended Ross Sykes missed out after his sending off on Sunday, with Jerome Opoku also banned after picking up a fifth yellow card at the weekend.

Coleman’s charges had to withstand pressure from the free-flowing hosts in the first half, Stanley shot-stopper Dimitar Evtimov having an early nervy moment when he spilled a Maddison free-kick.

Playmaker Maddison continued to be a threat and showed his talent by weaving his way past a couple of visiting defenders.

Francis-Angol’s return to the fold lasted just 28 minutes before he was forced off with Joe Maguire coming on in his place.

On the half-hour mark Stanley had their first chance, but Colby Bishop mishit his shot straight at Christy Pym.

Maguire only lasted 13 minutes himself before being stretchered off after a nasty collision.

In the first of 12 minutes added on in the first half, Offrande Zanzala saw his effort controversially chalked off after converting Sean McConville’s free-kick.

And McConville almost found the opener when he blasted a volley over the bar.

Stanley found themselves on the back foot after the restart however, with Maddison firing wide as Posh upped the ante.

But the attacking midfielder made no mistake as he put the hosts ahead in the 56th minute. Darren Ferguson’s side broke with searing pace with Maddison completing the move by chipping over a stranded Evtimov.

On the hour mark McConville struck a free-kick over as Stanley searched for an equaliser.

But with 21 minutes left Toney doubled the hosts’ lead with his 11th goal of the season, the former Newcastle striker heading home George Boyd’s cross as Posh asserted their dominance.

Late goals from Kent and Dembele added gloss to the performance.

Kent bagged his first goal for the club when he converted Joe Ward’s corner with five minutes left.

And Dembele rubbed salt into Stanley’s wounds when he rounded Evtimov to fire home his first league goal of the season.