A goal apiece from strike partners Joe Anyinsah and Tom Smyth set a young North End side on the way to a fine victory over an experienced Burnley outfit in the Pontins League derby at Irongate.

Their first half efforts were added to when trialist Harry Whalley headed home in the final minute, with Billy Barr's boys putting in an excellent team effort based around solid defending and swift attacking play.

There were further positives for Preston with Neal Trotman and Lewis Neal completing an hour's action on their comeback from injury, with both looking sharp and free from any ill-effects following their short lay-offs.

North End had already gone close through Smyth, Neal and Mike Aspin before Joe Anyinsah opened the scoring on the half hour, leaving the defence on their heels after a surging run from deep and completing a fine solo goal with a gentle dink over the advancing Gabor Kiraly from just inside the area.

Kiraly was one of a number of senior professionals in the Clarets line-up, with Michael Duff, Garreth O'Connor, John Spicer and Alan Mahon all making an appearance, but it was one of Preston's young guns that stole the headlines with a deserved second goal, four minutes before the interval.

Lewis Neal was the provider with a free-kick whipped in from the left flank, and Smyth - who has previously been played in an experimental centre half position for the youth and reserves in recent weeks - rose above all others to plant a powerful header beyond the stranded Hungarian keeper.

Burnley offered more of a threat in the early stages of the second half, with keeper Chris Neal and full-back Aspin both forced to stay alert to deny Wesley Fletcher and Mark Randall as the ball flew around the PNE penalty area just three minutes into the second period.

Smyth and Anyinsah both forced fingertip saves from Kiraly at the other end, while Chris Neal was again called upon to block an effort from striker Alex MacDonald - probably the visitors' brightest light - as he broke free inside the 18-yard box.

Midfielder Phil Appiah and substitute Adam Barton both came close to adding the third with long range strikes as the game drew to a close, but that honour instead fell to centre half Whalley, who nodded in at the near post from Nathan Fairhurst's near post corner in the final minute.

PNE: Chris Neal, Aspin, Shearwood, Whalley, Trotman (sub Collins 64), Appiah, Mayor, Fairhurst, Smyth (sub Conchie 83), Anyinsah, Lewis Neal (capt, sub Adam Barton 64). Subs not used: Cudworth, Miller.