A young Preston North End reserve team produced their best performance of the season in a 4-3 defeat of Bradford reserves on Wednesday night.

David Unsworth's team marched into the totesport.com League Cup semi-final after a thrilling game at Bamber Bridge.

Jamie Proctor had given North End the lead in the fifth minute with a cool finish, but Bradford pulled one back through Rory Boulding 15 minutes later.

It was all PNE from then on though, with George Miller and Michael McLellan both adding goals late in the first half to give North End a 3-1 lead.

Man of the match Danny Mayor then made it four with a stunning individual effort from 25 yards in the 57th minute, before Bradford ensured a nervy finish with two goals from Scott Neilson in the last five minutes.

The first goal came after some great work on the right from Danny Mayor forced a corner, which the midfielder swung in towards Adam Barton. Barton's touch then found the feet of Proctor five yards out, who made no mistake when he swept the ball past a host of Bradford players to put PNE 1-0 up five minutes in.

Barton and Mayor were running the show for North End, but they were pegged back in the 20th minute when Bradford's Rory Boulding showed his class, latching onto a long ball down the left. The striker then cut inside onto his right foot and powered home from a tight angle to make it 1-1.

North End's better use of possession seemed to be the difference between the two sides, with McLellan and Proctor both looking dangerous.

Neither were involved in the next goal though, as a brilliant piece of team play put Preston 2-1 up in the 41st minute. Danny Mayor had broken away at pace down the right, and was well supported by Connor McLaughlin. Mayor then teed up McLaughlin for a cross which he delivered perfectly to the far post to Proctor, who showed great awareness to cut it across for George Miller to smash it home from six yards.

Things then got even worse for Bradford as PNE doubled their lead three minutes later through Michael McLellan. The striker was put through by the unstoppable Danny Mayor, who ran through the midfield unchallenged before slipping a ball through to McLellan which was put away with deadly accuracy as the keeper advanced on him.
Preston were keeping the ball extremely well, and Bradford seemed to have no chance of getting back into things, especially when in the 57th minute Danny Mayor produced the moment of the match to make it 4-1.

The youngster had picked the ball up deep on the right wing, before beating three Bradford players with ease and hitting a wonderful shot straight into the back of the net from 25 yards. McLaughlin was powerless to save it as the shot dipped over his head.

If anything Preston looked likely to add to their lead in the second half, with Mayor and McLellan having great efforts, whilst Bradford's best chance went out of the stadium.

Things then changed in a frantic five minute spell at the end, when a Scott Neilson double put the win in doubt.

The first came on 85 minutes, after Bradford sub Rory Carson did well to put Neilson clean through, who finished well.

Then with just one minute to go, Bradford had a free kick on the left wing almost level with the corner flag. Preston were caught off guard by Neilson's kick though, as he curled it in from what looked like an impossible angle to make it 4-3.

It proved to be the last action of a thrilling match though, with North End coming out deserved winners.

Manager David Unsworth was thrilled with his players after the match, saying: "To a man, they were all outstanding. It was a young team, but for 80 minutes they were magnificent.

"That's the best the young lads have played since I've been at the club, outstanding. Its all come to fruition tonight, we kept the ball for long periods and our workrate was incredible.

"Danny Mayor and Adam Barton ran the game from start to finish tonight. You can see their qualities, and I'll be looking forward to telling Darren Ferguson about that."

PNE: Comrie, McLaughlin, Hart, Miller (Davidson 74), Devine, Collins (Wright 81), Mayor, Barton (c), McLellan, Proctor (McGreevy 77), Owens
Subs: Clucas, Leather, Davidson, Wright, McGreevy

Bradford: McLaughlin, Bateson, Villermann, Brandon, Cutler, Horne, Neilson, Sharry (Carson 77), M Boulding (Harrison 46), R Boulding, Osborne (Dean 70)
Subs: Carson, Convey, Harrison, Collantine, Dean

Report by Jonny Lally

Stay tuned to PNE Player for extended highlights of this thrilling victory.