Two goals from diminutive Italian striker Christian Nanetti (pictured) helped ensure that Rangers Under-18's got off to the best possible start in the Puma Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

Despite falling behind after just four minutes, Steve Brown's side stormed back with a brace from Nanetti and a well worked goal from midfielder Terry Smith.

Posh grabbed a consolation goal five minutes from time, but Brown's side never looked like they were going to give up their advantage and ran out deserved victors in their first match of the new campaign.

The early set back only seemed to kick start Rangers performance and within minutes of falling behind both Max Ehmer and Nanetti tested the visitors defence.

Full-back Femi Ilesanmi's strong run then set up Danny Fernandez, but the striker curled his effort wide of the target.

Nanetti then took control of proceedings, arrowing an unstoppable rising drive across the Posh keeper to equalise on 35 minutes.

Nine minutes later, the tricky winger chased down a back pass forcing the visiting keeper to miscue his clearance and set up Fernandez. The striker broke unchallenged into the penalty area and crossed for Nanetti to score at the far post.

Sandwiched in between the two goals, Danny Davenport drilled a 20-yard shot wide after Fernandez had headed a long clearance from Ed Harris down into his path and Nanetti and Davenport worked a free-kick that struck the Posh wall.

Nanetti continued to torment the visitors defence in the second period and on 62 minutes his inch-perfect pass found Antonio German, who cleverly turned his marker on the goal-line and crossed for Smith to score from the edge of the six-yard box.

In desperate search for his hat-trick Nanetti then smashed a drive straight at the Posh keeper and was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he was upended just inside the box, only for the referee to award the free-kick outside the area.

German nearly grabbed a fourth for Rangers on 82 minutes, but the angle at the near post proved just too tight for him.

At the other end, Niki-Lee Bulmer in the Rangers goal had to be on his toes to keep out a rare Posh strike two minutes later, but the Rangers custodian wasn't quite as lucky a matter of seconds afterwards and couldn't prevent a consolation goal for the visitors.

Right on full-time substitute Andrew Perring drove a long range shot over as Rangers finished in the ascendancy.

Manager Brown was satisfied with the performance but recognises that there is still room for improvement from his side, commenting: "We started poorly and looked tentative and nervous and duly got punished for it.

"We conceded from a set play which I'm disappointed with as we work on defending these types of situations all the time.

"I was pleased with our reaction after the goal though and Christian's strike will probably rank among the best you will see anywhere this season. The goal gave everyone a lift and we dominated from then on.

"The goal right at the end gave the scoreline a far tighter look and in truth the victory was far easier than the result suggests.

"Peterborough gave us a real test though and credit to them for keeping going. If we'd been more clinical with our finishing and at times taken less touches on the ball and moved it quicker I feel we could have made things easier for ourselves.

"I'm pleased with the start but there's a lot more to come from the players and our performances will improve."