PNE's youth team succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Stockport County on Saturday in a disappointing outing.

Stockport scored their first goal inside 22 minutes and netted twice in the second half before Tom Smyth's late strike.

North End played better as a unit in the first half and also had patches of good play in the second period, while the Lilywhites were unlucky not to equalise before the Hatters increased their lead to 2-0.

Mike Aspin drilled Preston's first shot wide after a Nathan Fairhurst lay-off. Adam Barton also had a go before goalkeeper Jack Cudworth was called into action at the other end. He rose highest to claim the ball after a corner and then, moments later, he flew out to clear a dangerous attack.

Midfielder Fairhurst played with authority throughout the game and picked out Danny Mayor whose shot was off target. Michael Conchie then provided Adam Barton with a new opportunity to score but home keeper Jason Astbury made a good save.

Despite Preston's pressure it was Stockport who broke the deadlock through Paul Ennis who slotted home.

Conchie carved out three chances in the space of three minutes hoping to snatch an equaliser. However, it was Fairhurst who made the first real threat as he delivered a sizzling 25-yard drive from the centre of the park which rattled the bar.

Stockport's Alex Elliott responded with a shot after opening up the PNE defence before Aspin failed to capitalise on a Mayor pass.

The Lilywhites went into the break trailing by a goal for the second successive away game and were hoping to turn the score around this time.
Unfortunately, that did not happen as the hosts came out on top, again.

Straight after the whistle, the Hatters directed two chances over the bar and Martin Smeaton missed a sitter.

PNE, meanwhile, made two substitutions at the start of the second half, as Danny Mayor - who had picked up an ankle injury - and Phil Quirk - who played his first game from start this campaign - were replaced by Tom Smyth and Chris Rogers.

Even if Preston could not match their first half performance, the team came really close during an early spell. Fairhurst found Conchie to his left but the Liverpudlian's effort went narrowly wide. A goal at that point would have been crucial but instead Stockport switched the direction of play and Ennis scored his second on 74 minutes.

Nine minutes later Smeaton took out his revenge for the earlier missed opportunity and tucked away the Hatters' final goal.

Fairhurst assited Tom Smyth's consolation goal to make the score 3-1. This was Smyth's second goal in a week after netting for the reserves on Wednesday.

Assistant director of youth, Nick Harrison, spoke to PNE.com after the game and said:

"It wasn't a great performance for us and we are disappointed with the result because we can do better. We didn't compete enough with their players and they had a lot more time on the ball to pick passes out.

"In the second half, we had good spells in five to ten minutes patches and they actually killed us with two goals after we had just had two good spells."

Despite the overall performance, Harrison was very happy with the display of Nathan Fairhurst and promoted U16 player George Miller, and praised the two:

"They were our best players on the pitch and played fantastically well. They actually did compete and looked to play the ball in other areas of the pitch where we were lacking."

Defender Ciaron Barton - who has had a spate of injuries this season - was given an opportunity to play one of his first full games in the Puma Youth Alliance League. He said:

"Stockport had the upper hand all way through and we never had the spark up front or at the back. The midfield did well though."

Preston's youth team now play three consecutive home games at Springfields, starting with Shrewsbury on Saturday, 8th March, kick-off 11am.

PNE: Cudworth, Aspin, Collins, C. Barton, Quirk (Rogers 46), Mayor (Smyth 46), Miller, Fairhurst, A. Barton, McCarthy (Shearwood 80), Conchie.

By Frida Larsson