Preston North End Youth 1-0 United Youth

It couldn't have been a tougher task for Carlisle to start their campaign away to a North End side that even at youth team level can be described as "big spending." The United task not made any easier either through the absence of three players from their 17-man squad, Paddy O'Brien, Brad Potts and Mark Sloan all being sidelined with injuries.

Playing on the first-team training pitch at Preston's Springfields complex, it was the home side who had the better of the opening exchanges with Northern Irish striker Michael McLellan twice shooting narrowly wide of the target. North End though taking the lead bang on the half-hour mark as Jordan Bent raced through the middle onto a Seanan Clucas pass before dinking the ball over the top of a diving Jon Ball and into the Carlisle net.

Five minutes into the second-half and Preston were looking to make it 2-0 but Ball made an excellent save from Doyle Middleton's powerful 15-yard drive. McLellan then, after good approach work from Reece James, shooting into the side-netting at Ball's near-post as the home side kept up the pressure with Luke Clark moments later going close with a header wide from a James cross in.

Moving into the last 10 to 15 minutes Carlisle started to come on strong in their search for an equaliser but they couldn't find anything better than half-chances, with Preston actually nearly scoring once more late on. McLellan's dipping shot on the break bringing out the save of the day from Ball as he expertly tipped the ball over the top.

So, a defeat is never a good way to start of the season, but the other side of the coin is it is more than likely the hardest fixture of the campaign out of the way. The young Blues hoping that they can get their first points on the board next Saturday morning when they face Bury in an 11am kick-off at Creighton Rugby Club.



Preston line-up :

Dominic Comrie, Cameron Parish, Reece James, Luke Clark, Danny Devine (C), Fred Holton, Jordan Bent, Seanan Clucas, Michael McLellan, Doyle Middleton (Naim El-Harrati 68), Matt Dudley.


Unused substitutes :

Ryan Hall, Steve James and Robinson.


Carlisle line-up :

Jon Ball, David Symington, Kieran Cahill (James Bonner 66), Steven Swinglehurst (c), Lance McGlen, Ben McKenna, Phil Towler, Mark Beck, Dan Jones (Adam Gill 77), Matt Osmond.

Unused substitutes :

Joe Clements (GK).



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