REPORT: Peterborough United 4, Rochdale 1: Quickfire hat-trick from Clarke-Harris as Posh romp home

That was the scoreline at the break as Nathan Thompson also struck from a set-piece. Rochdale had briefly drawn level as three goals arrived in the opening 11 minutes.

It was impressive stuff from Posh on a cloying London Road surface.

As expected manager Darren Ferguson made multiple changes to the last League One starting line-up and the switch back to a wing-back formation was made.

Idris Kanu and Harrison Burrows started in those wing-back positions with Reece Brown and Flynn Clarke brought into midfield areas. It was 17 year-old Clarke’s first Football League start and Burrows’ first League One appearance of the camp.

Those to drop out were Louis Reed, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Ethan Hamilton and Sammie Szmodics.

And after 45 minutes, one wondered why these changes hadn’t happened sooner in the season.

Kanu, Clarke and Burrows all claimed first-half assists as Posh raced into a 4-1 interval lead.

Brown had already struck a post from 25 yards in the second minute when Kanu was adjudged to have been fouled inside the area in the fourth minute. It looked soft, but Clarke-Harris wasn’t bothered as he powered home the penalty.

Dale looked wide open at the back, but carried an attacking threat and they levelled in the ninth minute when a delicious chip from Aaron Morley was volleyed home at the far post by Stephen Humphrys.

But Posh bounced back immediately as a superb cross from Burrows was nodded home by Clarke-Harris and from then on it was one-way traffic up to half time.

Brown showed great skill to get into space in the Dale penalty area, but squeezed a shot wide before a corner fell at the feet of Mark Beevers. His shot was deflected into the path of Clarke-Harris who completed his rapid hat-trick in the 21st minute.

Dale were refusing to pick up the Posh wing-backs and paying the penalty.

Clarke had a couple of opportunites from the edge of the penalty area, the first was blocked by a defender’s face and the second dribbled harmlessly wide.

A fourth Posh goal did arrive five minutes before the break when Clarke’s corner was headed home by Nathan Thompson. Thompson, who played in the centre of the Posh back three, spoilt his day by collecting the caution that will rule him out of Tuesday’s game at MK Dons.

Posh looked set for more goals early in the second-half as Kanu blazed well after Sirikie Dembele teed him up and then a superb move down the right involving Brown, Dembele, and Kanu gave Clarke a shot at glory, but the youngster blazed over.

Dale had a good 15 minutes, but only threatened with shots from distance from Stephen Dooley and Mathew Lund before the arrival of Szmodics and Mo Eisa from the bench perked Posh up again.

Eisa was soon racing into the area onto a Jack Taylor pass, but Dale ‘keeper Jay Lynch made the save.

Lynch also did well to thwart Clarke-Harris from close range before the hat-trick hero missed a sitter from six yards after a fine Burrows pass.

Burrows, who appears to have unlimited energy, then set up Szmodics for a tricky opportunity which he struck just over the bar.

Posh saw the game out after making five second substitutions in total. Worryingly Clarke-Harris limped out after appearing to limp off after twisting his ankle.

Humphrys had a chance for a second Dale goal, but sub Niall Mason cleared his shot

Posh: Christy Pym, Nathan Thompson, Mark Beevers (sub Niall Mason, 81 mins), Frankie Kent, Idris Kanu, Jack Taylor, Reece Brown (sub Louis Reed, 81 mins), Harrison Burrows, Flynn Clarke (sub Sammie Szmodics, 66 mins), Siriki Dembele (sub Mo Eisa, 63 mins), Jonson Clarke-Harris (sub Ryan Broom, 81 mins).

Unused substititutes: Dan Gyollai, Ronnie Edwards.

Rochdale: Jay Lynch, Tolaji Bola (sub Jim McNulty, 72 mins), Eoghan O’Connell, Stephen Dooley (sub Fabio Tavares, 88 mins), Aaron Morley (sub Kwadwo Baah, 88 mins), Stephen Humphrys (sub Ethan Brierley, 88 mins), Alex Newby (sub Matt Done, 82 mins), Jimmy Koehane, Haydon Roberts, Jimmy Ryan, Matty Lund.

Unused subs: Ben Charlton, Paul McShane.

Goals: Posh - Clarke-Harris (pen, 6 mins, 11 mins & 21 mins), Thompson (40 mins).

Rochdale - Humphrys (9 mins).

Cautions: Posh - Beevers (foul), Thompson (foul).

Referee: Brett Huxtable 8

Attendance: 2,000 (approx).