Harry at the double as Peterborough United fought back to claim a draw, but a win was there for the taking

But they should be regretting a dozy start to the second-half when they conceded three goals in nine minutes, all to Jayden Wareham, as a 1-0 interval lead became a 3-1 deficit.

Patryk Sykut, a 17 year-old making his full debut, had fired Posh into an 18th minute lead. Two headed goals from Harry Leonard rescued a point for Posh which was the least they deserved after a resounding finale.

Posh improved massively when Cian Hayes and Brandon Khela entered the fray and they looked the only side likely to claim a winner. An added time penalty claim after a challenge on Leonard was ignored by rookie referee Elliott Swallow, a decision that irked the Posh striker so much, he received a post-match yellow card.

The Posh chairman’s Friday night revelation that there were injury concerns in midfield proved accurate, although Khela and Donay O’Brien-Brady were on the substitutes’ bench so impressive cameos off the bench from Sykut might have tipped the selection balance on his favour.

Sykut for Khela was the only Posh starting change, while Exeter made three changes to a team that drew 1-1 at home to Wycombe in the first game in charge for interim boss Dan Green.

There was a wide open start to the game and Exeter should have scored in the third minute after on-loan Sunderland winger Timur Titierov raced away and pulled the ball back only for Sonny Cox to blaaze over the bar from close range.

Kyrell Lisbie and Carl Johnston were causing problems on the left where Pierce Sweeney was having a torrid time, but the opening goal when it did arrive on 18 minutes was pretty much Sykut’s own work. He showed strength and skill to fashion an opening before striking from 18 yards into the corner with the help of a slight deflection.

Posh failed to convert a couple of 20-yard free kicks, even though Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth spilled the one JJ Morgan struck, before the game petered out, partly because of the number of free kicks awarded for both sides.

Cox had another, more difficult opportunity, on 38 minutes after Ilmari Niskanen’s run and cross, but he again missed the target.

Exeter made two substitutions at the break and equalised just 48 seconds after the re-start. Niskanen made the break down the right on to a pass from substitute Akeel Higgins and delivered a perfect cross for Wareham to head home from close range.

And Wareham was soon all alone in the penalty area again after some slick accurate passes travelled through the Posh defence. He finished expertly and then completed a nine-minute hat-trick with a sliding close range finish from another precise Niskanen cross.

Posh responded with a couple of substitutions of their own and one of them, Hayes, made an immediate impact, first by winning a corner and then by delivering it on to the head of Leonard. Posh were back within one with half an hour to play.

The Posh tempo went up several gears. Carl Johnston saw a fierce thump well saved by Whitworth before Wareham’s attempt at a fourth goal was thwarted by pressure from Peter Kioso.

The shock of Posh scoring from one corner was almost repeated when Lisbie headed straight at Whitworth from close range. A fine Whitworth punch from another set-piece actually led the Posh leveller 11 minutes from time. Morgan collected the ball on the edge of the area, skilled his way past a defender before crossing for Leonard to stoop and head home.

Posh kept the pressure on right until the final whistle, but couldn’t catch a break or a key refereeing decision.

Posh: Alex Bass, Carl Johnston, David Okagbue, Peter Kioso, James Dornelly, Archie Collins, Patryk Sykut (sub Brandon Khela, 55 mins), Declan Frith (sub Cian Hayes, 54 mins), Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Kyrell Lisbie, Harry Leonard.

Unused subs: Bastian Smith, Lucca Mendonca, George Nevett, Donay O’Brien-Brady, Pemi Aderoju.

Exeter: Joe Whitworth, Ilmari Niskanen, Pierce Sweeney, Ed Turns (sub Jack McMillan, 46 mins), Luca Woodhouse, Liam Oakes (sub Charlie Cummins, 88 mins), Ethan Briesley, Jack Aitchison, Timur Tutierov (sub Ryan Rydel, 70 mins), Sonny Cox (sub Akeel Higgins, 46 mins), Jayden Wareham (sub Josh Magennis, 77 mins).

Unused subs: Jack Bycroft, Tom Dean.

Posh goals: Sykut (18 mins), Leonard (61 mins & 79 mins).

Exeter goals: Wareham (46 mins, 52 mins & 54 mins).

Posh cautions: Leonard (dissent).

Exeter cautions: Cox (foul), Sweeney (foul), Wareham (foul).

Referee: Elliott Swallow 6

Attendance: 7,341 (334 Exeter).