A double from Jamie Douglas, a penalty from Adam Barton and strikes from youth teamers Neil Dougan and Jamie Proctor sent North End to an impressive 5-1 win over Middlesbrough in the totesport.com League Cup clash.
It marked a great start to David Unsworth's arrival as development coach for the five players who are too old for the youth team but not yet ready for the first team squad.
Jamie Douglas got the first, latching onto an excellent through ball from Adam Barton before holding off the challenge of the Boro defender to slide it past their keeper at the near post.
The QED Stadium crowd were treated to some excellent passing football from North End and the energy of the frontline meant the Boro backline were under constant pressure.
With one goal to their name at half-time whatever the management said worked a treat as the teenagers delivered a stupendous second half with four more goals.
Adam Barton slided home a penalty after Neil Dougan had burst through and seen his legs taken out by the opposition keeper within the eighteen yard box.
Neil Dougan added the third minutes later before the visitors pulled a goal back to make it 3-1. But that would be all that the Academy team would get as Jamie Proctor and Douglas put the game out of reach in the latter stages.
Development Coach David Unsworth said:
"It's a tremendous result, at this level we're looking for performances from all the boys and if we get performances of them the results will take care of themselves.
"To win by five, I thought the performance was excellent, Jamie and I asked them to give us the maximum in terms of the work levels and we asked them to be positive and do things the right way, not be too worried about making mistakes and they did everything I asked of them and they got their rewards. The most important and pleasing thing from everybody was that the performance level was top notch.
"The goals were down to good positive play, crosses in the box and everybody working their socks off as much. I thought everyone one on the night produced a great level of performance and they all tried to be positive, when they play with no fear and are positive and work their socks off the goals will come, it's a simple as that, I wouldn't like to highlight anybody because it was a fantastic team performance."
PNE Line-Up: Henderson, McLaughlin, Quirk, Miller, Smyth (c), D Collins, Dougan, Barton, McGreevy, J Proctor, Douglas. Subs: Devine, Comrie, Owens, S Davidson.
Middlesbrough Line-Up: Ripley, Atkinson, Gibson, Edwards, Smallwood, Weldon, Williams, Pilatos, Porritt, Martin, Cronesberry. Subs: Shead, Park, Hawkins.
