Abraham Odoh in action against Colchester United

Sam Hughes and Declan Frith were on target as Posh and Colchester United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

There is just one pre-season friendly left in the schedule for Darren Ferguson's players to demonstrate they deserve a spot in the XI for the opening Sky Bet League One fixture of the season at Cardiff City next Saturday after a 2-2 draw with Colchester United at the JobServe Community Stadium. 

Those players not involved against the U's are in action at Grimsby Town on Saturday with Ferguson admitting after the draw at Colchester United that places are still up for grabs.

Posh were 2-0 up at the U's thanks to goals from Sam Hughes and Declan Frith, but were pegged back by their tenacious hosts with Samson Tovide coming off the substitutes bench to earn a share of the spoils. 

Hughes headed a Harley Mills set-piece over the top on 14 minutes but the Posh skipper made no mistake moments later, as HUGHES powered a header past Macey. 

Abraham Odoh fired over from 20-yards and then forced Macey into a save from a similar position as Posh dominated and the second goal did arrive on 27 minutes as O'Brien-Brady found FRITH who took a touch and rifled the ball into the corner.

The two-goal cushion didn't last long as WILLIAMS took advantage of a poor defensive pass to fire past Nicholas Bilokapic.

Harry Anderson was denied by Bilokapic before Mills cleared off the line as the hosts tried to find a leveller before the interval.

Bradley Ihionvien, who was booked earlier for a scuffle, headed over from an O'Brien-Brady cross on 49 minutes and he came close to extending the Posh lead, but his close-range effort was blocked.

TOVIDE levelled the scores on 67 minutes after a deflected cross was headed home by the substitute front man. Collins did well to clear off the line with 15 minutes to go before the game petered out into a draw.

Colchester: Macey, Hunt, Flanagan, Tucker, Thorn, Perry, Bishop, Anderson, Williams, Edwards, Goodwin. 

Posh: Bilokapic, Johnston, Hughes (sub Mendonca 71min0, Okagbue, Mills, Collins, Khela, Odoh, O’Brien-Brady, Frith, Ihionvien (sub Changunda 77min). Unused subs: Smith, Fox.