Nathan Delfouneso and Nathan Baker came out on top in the battle of the Villa youngsters, as the duo helped England U19s defeat Andreas Weimann's Austria.

The Young Lions made a winning start to the Euro U19 Championships in France, with a brace from West Ham's Frank Nouble and a second-half strike from Tom Cruise of Arsenal sealing a 3-2 success.

All three Villa aces started for their respective nations in an entertaining Group A clash at the Stade du Hazé in Flers.

Nouble's goals, on 13 and 29 minutes, gave Noel Blake's team the perfect start but a second-half surge from the Austrians almost saw them snatch a point.

The lively David Alaba reduced the deficit with a well-struck 52nd minute free-kick.

Cruise drilled home a third goal for England moments later before Gernot Trauner found the bottom corner to set up an interesting final 15 minutes.

But England held on to earn three points from their opening game.

Delfouneso was in the thick of the action from the early stages, trading passes with Dean Parrett only to be stopped in his tracks by a well-timed tackle just as he was about to pull the trigger.

The Villa striker found himself through on goal after again being played in by Parrett but his shot was blocked.

The two sides are back in action on Wednesday when England take on the Netherlands in Bayeux, while Austria face hosts France in Flers.