North End fell to a disappointing defeat to Carlisle in the Reserves League Cup at Brunton Park.
Unsworth's youthful side had a sprinkling of first team professionals incuding Darel Russell and Neal Trotman but they could do little to prevent defeat in blazing sunshine.
YTS striker Ryan Bowman and Salem Vannick grabbed first half goals for the Cumbrian side and despite an improved performance in the second period North End made the long journey back down the M6 with nothing to show for.
The first strike at goal came in the fourth minute of the match. Ryan Bowman picked the ball up wide right and with no options in the middle he opted to drive a shot at goal, the ball had plenty of power but very little direction.
Preston's first chance came after a fine flowing move from one side of the pitch to the next. Conor McLaughlin had stolen in unseen down the right flank and he provided a fine delivery towards the penalty spot where George Miller met the ball with his head, the ball arched towards goal but just cleared the crossbar.
Seanan Clucas was enjoying his central midfield role, seeing plenty of the ball early on and in the 18th minute he spotted an opportunity to hit a strike at goal from distance, the young Irishman saw his effort head towards the top corner before being plucked out of the air by Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie.
The first goal of the afternoon came in the 20th minute of the match and it went the way of the hosts. Tony Kane spotted space in behind left-back Dominic Collins and he played the perfectly weighted ball in behind for Bowman to run on to, Bailey Wright attempted to close down the space and tighten the angle but Bowman managed to drill a low effort beyond Arestidou and the ball went in off the back post.
Kane provided Bowman with a further chance in the 27th minute when he lofted a ball over the defence, Bowman took the ball on his chest but didn't have sufficient control of the ball to get any power on his shot.
That man Bowman was proving to be a constant menace and he almost capitalised on some indecision between Arestidou and Wright when he closed the pair down and poked his leg at the ball to divert it towards goal, fortunately for PNE it flew wide.
A good blocking challenge from Conor McLaughlin denied Salem Vannick an effort at goal on 38 minutes. The chance came after good passing on the edge of the box between Kevan Hurst and Bowman.
Vannick was on the scoresheet seconds later, a clever ball into the box from Kane found the Carlisle striker clean through on goal and he slotted the ball under Arestidou from the angle.
North End made two changes at the break, Reece James came on for Collins at left-back whilst Michael McLellan bolstered the attack, Clucas making way.
Carlisle started the second half in much the same fashion that they had ended the first, midfielder Hurst tried his luck from distance and was only a couple of yards away from finding the target.
Arestidou was in the right place at the right time in the 56th minute when Bowman shot straight at him from eight yards out after Swinglehurst dispossed McLaughlin in the box.
Dougan was shown a yellow card in the 57th minute when he caught Carlisle captain Kane with a late challenge.
Preston's third and final change of the afternoon came in the 66th minute when Daniel Devine replaced Neal Trotman at centre-half.
Arestidou pulled off a fine double save on 67 minutes, the first as Vannick span onto a shot and then from the rebound he collected as Peter Murphy headed towards goal.
Bailey Wright got a rare opportunity to venture forward in the 70th minute of the match, the Australian defender arrived late to power a header at goal from a Doyle Middleton cross.
Carlisle made their final changes of the afternoon when Kavanagh and Vannick were replaced by Mark Beck and Lance McGlen.
Wright kept the scoreline at 2-0 in the 82nd minute when he prevented a goalbound shot from crossing the line. Arestidou was in 'No Man's Land' after rushing out to prevent Bowman from getting a second, Wright covered in behind and when substitute Beck turned the ball towards goal the Australian centre-half was there to head the ball away.
The rangy Beck was fouled in the 85th minute of the match and from 25-yards out Murphy drilled a free-kick at goal which flew just wide of Aretidou's far-right post.
Carlisle: Gillespie, Kane, Swinglehurst (Osmond 58), Todd, Kavanagh, Murphy, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hurst, Bowman, Vannick, Robson. Subs: Bll, Towler, Beck, McGlen.
PNE: Arestidou, McLaughlin, Collins (R James 46), Clucas (McLellan), Trotman (Devine 66), Wright, Middleton, Russell, Douglas, Miller, Dougan. Subs: Comrie, Dudley.
Carlisle Reserves versus Preston North End Reserves. Tuesday 31st August, 2pm kick-off, Brunton Park.
