Peterborough United were again impressive in pre-season as Premier League side Aston Villa were pushed all the way by Gary Johnson's men at London Road, Martin O'Neill's men holding on for a 3-2 win.
John Carew tested Joe Lewis with a deflected effort on three minutes, but it was Posh who looked the more dangerous in the early exchanges on a warm, muggy night at London Road.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring though and it was a touch of class, Ashley YOUNG taking a touch and lofting a superbly-weighted chip over goalkeeper Joe Lewis and into the top corner of the net.
Posh responded with a superb goal of their own moments later, Craig Mackail-Smith's energy worrying the back-line for Villa and when the ball ran loose to Arron DAVIES, he fooled everyone by taking a touch before beating two defenders and rifling the ball past Brad Friedel.
Grant McCann fired over on 18 minutes after a good build-up from Posh before John Carew fired a free-kick straight at the wall after the referee punished Wesolowski for a foul 30-yards from goal.
American Friedel made a fantastic save to push a fierce McCann 25-yard drive away from goal on 25 minutes with James Collins performing heroics to stop Mclean from converting the rebound.
A stunning effort from Davies had Friedel scrambling, but the shot-stopper made a smart save, pushing the right-footed drive around the post. Gary Johnson's men were playing some excellent football and the crowd were enjoying what they were witnessing.
Ryan Bennett headed a McCann corner over the top on 33 minutes before Villa won a corner of their own after a swift counter-attack led by Ashley Young. Petrov glanced the set-piece over the bar.
The impressive McCann curled a left-foot free-kick inches past the post on 42 minutes. However, despite all the play and the chances, it was Villa who got their noses in front on the stroke of half-time as a low cross into the box was converted with a neat flick by CAREW whose effort went into the net off the inside of the post.
Kelvin Langmead made a fine tackle to deny Young five minutes into the second period as both sides struggled to get going after the break. Goalkeeper Joe Lewis was called into action on 54 minutes and he produced a fine fingertip save to push over a swerving Downing effort before Langmead stopped Dunne from scoring as the resulting corner caused havoc.
The respite didn't last long though as another corner was missed by everyone in blue and full-back LICHAJ ghosted in to power a header past Lewis. Talented youngster Albrighton fired narrowly over the crossbar on 62 minutes after racing onto a loose pass as Villa pushed for a fourth goal.
It was Posh who scored the next goal though and it was a second in two pre-season games for Charlie LEE, who fooled the defender with a sharp turn before firing past the goalkeeper with the aid of a deflection.
An ambitious effort from Hibbert drifted wide on 81 minutes after good work from Mackail-Smith and Mendez-Laing in the build-up as Posh finished strongly against their Premier League opponents.
Mackail-Smith glanced a Nana cross wide of the target on 85 minutes after Villa went to sleep at a short corner as the pressure continued to mount on the visitors. In the dying moments of the game, Posh should have levelled as former striker Langmead found himself baring down on goal, but Parish made a good save with his legs. Boyd found the side-netting moments later, but a deserved draw could not be forced.
Final Score: Posh 2-3 Aston Villa
Posh: Lewis, Little, Langmead, Bennett (sub Lee 60min), Nana, Boyd, Wesolowski (sub Queudrue 60min), McCann, Mclean (sub Hibbert 60min), Mackail-Smith, Davies (sub Mendez-Laing 70min).
Villa: Friedal (sub Parish 46min), Lichaj, Dunne (sub Berry 83min), Downing, Young (sub Bannan 70min), Carew (sub Collins 80min), Albrighton (sub Hogg 80min), Petrov (sub Osbourne 70min), Reo-Coker (sub Forrester 83min), Beye, Collins (sub Lowry 60min).
