Full-time: Cheltenham 3 Peterborough 6

Cheltenham Town and Peterborough United served up a nine-goal cracker at Whaddon Road.

Down to the bare bones, manager Martin Allen brought Josh Low in from the cold for his first League start in two months.

Centre-backs Gavin Caines, Drissa Diallo and Shane Duff were among the sick and injured, so Alan Wright was the surprise partner for Darren Kenton – and at five feet four inches, he must have been one of the smallest centre-backs in history.

But Boyd gave a warning of his danger in the opening minute, forcing Brown into a save, then he broke the deadlock.

Craig Mackail-Smith squared the ball into his path, and his shot looped off Andy Gallinagh's foot over Scott Brown into the net.

But to their credit Cheltenham fought back well and a long Lee Ridley throw was dropped by Joe Lewis and Ashley Vincent stabbed the ball goalwards, but Chris Morgan cleared it off the line.

Mackail-Smith had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside after 11 minutes, but at the other end Alex Russell fashioned another chance for Vincent but he turned and shot wide.

Cheltenham with Low, Russell and Ian Westlake in combative form, were keeping the game even but Brown had to save well from Mackail-Smith on the half-hour.

For Cheltenham, Westlake fired a free-kick over and sent a low 25-yarder at Lewis, then Westlake fed Ridley down the left and his cross was diverted goalwards by Elvis Hammond, but Lewis saved.

But Cheltenham were level after 48 minutes when Hammond and Westlake put Vincent into the box and he went down under Charlie Lee's challenge, picking himself up to convert the penalty.

Peterborough went back in front on the hour as Lee made up for his error, heading home Dean Keates' corner, but Vincent felt he was fouled and talked himself into a booking.

Three minutes later, Mackail-Smith rifled home the third after Russell's clearance was headed back through to him by Aaron McLean.

But after 67 minutes Cheltenham were back in it as Gallinagh and Vincent set up Hammond for his first goal for the club.

Yet again Peterborough established their two-goal advantage as Mackail-Smith did superbly down the left and his cross was tapped into his own net by Wright.

With five minutes left, Cheltenham had another lifeline as substitute Lloyd Owusu crashed home to make it 4-3 – but McLean went straight down the other end seconds later to make it 5-3.

In injury time, Hayles stupidly got himself sent off after stamping on Tom Williams, and the final action saw Chris Whelpdale head Boyd's cross in for Posh's sixth goal.

Cheltenham Town (4-3-3): Brown; Gallinagh (Owusu 72) , Kenton, Wright, Ridley; Low, Russell, Westlake; Hammond (Hayes 90), Hayles, Vincent. Subs: Puddy, Lindegaard, Connor.

Peterborough United (4-4-2): Lewis; Martin, Morgan, Lee, Williams; Whelpdale, Coutts (Crofts 85), Keates, Boyd; McLean, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Westwood, Batt, Green, Blanchett.