Preston North End fielded six players under the age of sixteen, seven first year scholars and two second year scholars but were ultimately defeated by Bury's second string at Radcliffe Borough.

Nathan Fairhurst and Phil Appiah have both recently been awarded with professional contracts and they were the most experienced players on duty as Billy Barr opted to take a look at many of the new scholars for the 2008/09 campaign.

The young Lilywhites put in a strong second half performance but they were already two goals behind by that stage, the second goal being scored just before the break.

"We're more than happy with the performance," reserves boss Billy Barr said after the game.

"First half was a bit sloppy but second half without really finding a cutting edge we were really happy with a young team who played the game at a good tempo.

"That was the last game of the season and it was nice to give them a run out and let them know what they are coming into next year, they're probably going to be involved in the reserves quite a lot next year, the better you do as a first year, that will dictate how many games you play in the reserves.

"We're probably disappointed with the result, you always are when you get beat but we are more than happy with the second half performance."

The match brought to a close North End's reserve campaign for the 2007/08 season and overall Barr admits that he's happy with the way things have developed over the season.

He said: "A lot of the time this season we have had very young teams out there, we've been battered on a couple of occasions but at other times we have done well.

"It always helps when the pros are playing with them and when the pros have played this year they have tuned into it quickly and performed on the day. That helps the kids who have always been in and around, the likes of Phil and Nathan, it helps them, when other people around them do their jobs right.

"Tonight Phil and Nathan have been the most experienced players on the park and they've had to show the attitude that the pros show and they have done that, that's part of their learning now, they'll be senior members of the reserves side.

"That's their learning curve of YTS football at reserve level finished now, next time they play a reserve game they will be professional footballers."