Preston North End reserves overcame a tricky Tranmere Rovers test at the QED Stadium.

Dominic Collins scored the only goal of the game for Preston, heading in Sam Hart's corner after just five minutes.

David Unsworth fielded a young and inexperienced side, giving Naim El-Harrati his debut, playing alongside fellow under-16 players Jordan Bent and substitute Matthew Dudley.

Conversely, the Tranmere team consisted of seven first team players, including striker Bas Savage in his first appearance back from long-term injury.

Preston dominated the first half, almost doubling their lead minutes after opening the scoring when Jamie Proctor burst through on the right and squared the ball to Neil Dougan, but his shot was well saved by the goalkeeper Joe Collister.

Proctor continued to be the creative force for Preston, threading a delightful ball into the path of Ryan McGreevy soon after, forcing the 'keeper to sweep the ball from the feet of the young striker.

In the middle of the first half Proctor once again showed his quality, taking the ball on a mazy run past three men and crossing from the wing into the path of Scott Davidson, but the Tranmere 'keeper pounced on the ball before anyone could connect.

Tranmere failed to fire a shot on target in the first half, due in no part to a solid and organised Preston defence orchestrated by Captain Bailey Wright. It was Wright who found himself with the hardest job of the afternoon locked in a physical battle to contain Tranmere's giant striker Savage. The young defender came out of the majority of challenges victorious, constantly out-jumping Savage despite his slight height disadvantage.

The away side finished the half with their only major chance when Savage out-jumped 'keeper Dominic Comrie in the box, but the ball failed to find its way through the crowd of Preston players who duly cleared.

Preston began the second half on the back foot and struggled to keep possession against a newly motivated Tranmere side. Alan Mahon almost levelled the game after 55 minutes when his free kick found its way through the wall and forced a smart reaction save from Comrie who saw the ball late.

The home side soon settled down and had their best chance of the second half after an hour when Proctor crossed to Dougan on the left, who fired a volley on target from a tight angle but his effort was blocked by Alex Pursehouse with the 'keeper well beaten.

Tranmere tried desperately to find an equaliser as Chris Shuker forced two good saves from Comrie before defender Cedric Ngakam found room to turn on the edge of the area and shoot low and hard, causing Comrie to perform a fantastic reflex save to snatch Preston all three points from a tough encounter.

PNE: Comrie, Leather, Hart, Clucas, Wright, Collins, Davidson, El-Harrati (Bent, 66), McGreevy (Dudley, 88), Proctor, Dougan. Subs: Holtom, R. James.

Tranmere: Collister, Pursehouse, Cresswell, Ngakam, McCready, Baker, Shuker, Barnett, Savage, Mahon, Rule (Jennings, 65). Subs: Ashcroft, Coughlin, Roberts, Gibbs,

Report by Chris Jones. Photography by Andy Stunell