Mark Wright fired a crucial double as MK Dons came from behind to beat Peterborough in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Winger Wright struck either side of half-time as a rotated Dons side recovered from an early setback when Aaron McClean gave the visitors the lead early on.

And returning midfielder Colin Cameron rounded off the scoring with a well-taken third five minutes from time as the Dons progressed to the Third Round.

It was an accomplished performance from Paul Ince's much-changed side, inspired by a glittering showing from young Bally Smart, as the on-loan Norwich winger dazzled an impressive crowd of 5,087 at stadiummk.

Along with Cameron, who busied himself tirelessly in the Dons midfield, Smart, 18, was the standout performer for the home side as he swivelled and sidestepped through the Posh defence.

Throw the pace and finishing of Wright into the equation and another cup game has provided Ince with a selection headache come the weekend.

Smart, whose game Ince once brilliantly described as akin to a child in the park, wanted the ball from the first whistle, probing down the Dons left and showing Claude Gnapka exactly what kind of evening the Posh defender would be in for.

Bally Smart was in sensational form for MK Dons against Peterborough.

But it was the visitors who went closest early-on, McClean firing a warning shot from 20 yards just wide, having escaped the clutches of Danny Swailes on 11 minutes.

But the former Grays Athletic hitman went one better five minutes later when the impressive Rene Howe put his strike partner through with a delightful backheel.

McClean needed no second invitation, racing into the box before drilling a composed finish past Willy Gueret.

The Dons' most profitable source of attack continued to be down the flanks as Smart and Wright troubled Darren Ferguson's team with their pace and Jemal Johnson drifted wide to create space for Drewe Broughton.

But no genuine chance came their way until Broughton held off Kieran Charnock on halfway and flicked a pass every bit as clever as Howe's for Johnson to streak onto.

Charnock recovered well to press the American striker, but he was aware of Wright unmarked in the centre and squared the ball across the box for the wide-man to slot home.

Mark Wright slots the Dons' equaliser.

The middle of half was dominated by a midfield battle which afforded the front men few chances but just when the game looked to be cantering to half time, it was inevitably Smart who shook it to life.

Chris Whelpdale will not sleep easy tonight after the South African not once, but twice left him for dead on one scintillating run down the left wing.

The Posh midfielder had no better luck minutes later when he blocked Smart's path after Gnakpa had been bamboozled 10 yards inside the Dons half.

Whelpdale was replaced at the break by Jamie Day but Posh still struggled with the plait-haired nemesis as he burst away from them again early in the second half before Chris Westwood put in an important block.

Posh were still creating and Howe should have put them back in front on 51 minutes when he soared over the Dons defence to meet a Gavin Strachan corner and planted a header wide from six yards.

Colin Cameron secures passage with the Dons' third.

He was made to pay a minute later as Johnson and Wright combined again to put the Dons in the lead.

Cameron's pass into the right channel was held up by Johnson and, with Danny Blanchett well out of position, he tucked a ball inside for the flying Wright.

His first touch took him away from the defender and his second fired the ball high into the far corner from 12 yards.

Still there were chances for the visitors and Howe in particular after he cut inside from the right, beating Swailes and Sean O'Hanlon in the process, only to hesitate in front of goal and be smothered by Gueret.

Another intelligent, low cross from Smart forced Peterborough 'keeper Shwan Jalal to scramble away and when substitute Gareth Edds' follow up flew through the crowd it was cleared off the line by Charnock.

Colin Cameron celebrates his goal with Scott Taylor and Jemal Johnson.

Johnson should have made it three on 73 minutes when Smart flicked Jude Stirling's pass outrageously in behind the Posh defence but, trying a cheeky chip, his shot was easily saved by Jalal.

But Cameron got the goal his industrious performance deserved when substitute Scott Taylor got away down the left and centred a low pass into the Scot's path.

Much like Wright, Cameron had time to take a touch before coolly slotting low across Jalal to secure passage to Round Three.

The draw is live on Soccer AM on Saturday morning but before that, Ince will consider just who has impressed him enough to change a winning team against Lincoln on Sunday.

MK Dons (4-4-2): Gueret, Stirling, O'Hanlon, Swailes, Lewington, Wright (Carayol 87), Cameron, Howell (Edds 58), Smart, Broughton (Taylor 81), Johnson.

Subs not used: Murphy, Abbey.

Goals: Wright (25, 52), Cameron (85)

Booked: None

Peterborough (4-4-2): Jalal, Gnakpa, Westwood, Charnock, Blanchett, Whelpdale (Day 46), Strachan, Hyde (c) (Lee 65), Boyd, McClean (Mackail-Smith 65), Howe.

Subs not used: Tyler, Gaughran.

Goals: McClean (16)

Booked: None