Friends and partners in a Man United midfield of the early 1990s, Ince and Ferguson pitted wits for the first time in their new managerial careers with Ince proving to be the winner.
His Macclesfield team dominated Peterborough from the start and should have won by many more but for some poor finishing.
Macclesfield went close in the first-half when Alan Navarro whistled a 25-yard drive inches past the post in the 25th minute. Then John Miles saw a powerful volley clawed wide by Mark Tyler on 38 minutes.
But Tyler was left looking bemused by a piece of skill from the Silkmen's former Premiership star Martin Bullock on the stroke of half-time.
The pint-sized winger seized on a poor back-header from Craig Morgan before lifting the ball over the stranded Tyler and thumping a joyful volley into the empty net.
But the home side's joy was short-lived as keeper Tommy Lee gifted Peterborough an equaliser on 50 minutes as he flapped at a Josh Low cross allowing Aaron McLean a free header from 12 yards.
However, stung into action Macc responded immediately and only three minutes later John Murphy chested the ball down for Navarro who powered home an 18-yard volley.
Macc then missed chances through Miles and Murphy and were nearly made to pay in the 90th minute when sub Craig Mackail-Smith fired a free shot over the bar from 15 yards.
Keeper Lee then made amends for his earlier mistake by clawing wide a Gavin Strachan header with the final touch of the game.