Preston North End's youth team progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after a fantastic 2-1 win against Manchester City at Deepdale.
North End rose to the occasion and produced a great performance against City's academy side in front of the 590 fans who watched on from the Sir Tom Finney Stand.
Jamie Hoyland's side opened the scoring in the second half thanks to a well directed header from captain George Miller and former City trainee Neil Dougan then doubled his sides advantage in the 82nd minute after tapping in Jamie Proctor's cross.
The Lilywhites were dealt a scare in the dying stages when Ahmed Benali pulled a goal back and Joan Angel Olle hit the crossbar with a long range shot, but Preston were able to hold on and cap off an excellent performance by progressing to the next round of the competition.
There was a steady start to the game with Proctor having the first chance at goal, but his shot was hit high into the Bill Shankly Kop.
However, the game was sparked into life in the 14th minute when a sweeping Manchester City move ended up with Jeremy Helan just dragging his shot wide from around the penalty spot.
This was a scare for the young North Enders who could have opened the scoring themselves five minutes later when a great cross field ball from Scott Davidson picked out Proctor on the right hand side. Proctor then fizzed the ball across the six-yard-box but Ryan McGreevy was just unable the get onto the end of it.
North End were again looking to open the scoring and came close once again in the 24th minute when a deep free-kick by Dougan was guided back into the penalty area by Miller, but City's defense were able to clear the danger.
This was a great passage of play by the Lilywhites who were really taking the game to a travelling City side that found themselves on the back foot for most of the half.
As well as this, North End's defenders were holding their shape expertly and City rarely threatened Dominic Comrie in the North End goal.
There was a higher tempo at the start of the second half and Manchester City came close to opening the scoring in the 48th minute when John Gudetti was played in around the six-yard-box but his shot just rolled past the post.
City were again at it in the 52nd minute but Benali's shot was expertly blocked by Daniel Devine in the Preston penalty area.
Following this chance, the Lilywhites broke up the other end with a bright run from Davidson who laid the ball to the advancing Miller but he was blocked off on the edge of the area by Andrew Mitchell. This was again another great chance for the Preston youngsters who looked increasingly dangerous when attacking the City defense.
There was a feeling in the Deepdale crowd that something had to give and it did in the 58th minute when Miller opened the scoring for the Lilywhites. Davidson swung a free-kick from the edge of the area into a packed Man City penalty area and Captain Miller rose the highest and nodded in the opener. You could see how much this meant to the local lad who ran straight over to the Sir Tom Finney stand to celebrate with the Deepdale faithful.
North End then did well to keep hold of this lead a few minutes later and Comrie was called into action and he responded well by getting down quickly and keeping hold of Olle's effort from the edge of the area.
After taking the lead, North End were again showing great maturity with their play, keeping hold of the ball and not panicking when put under pressure. Chances did follow for both sides with Proctor and Tom Owens both seeing their shots saved by Lorius Karius and Comrie brilliantly palming away another long range effort from Olle.
Again Comrie pulled off another fantastic instinctive save in the 76th minute when Reece Wabara headed the ball across to Guddetti at the back post but Comrie palmed over Guddetti's point blank header.
Preston's ability to keep the ball was evident all afternoon and they were able to double their lead in the 82nd minute through a former Man City player. Proctor never gave up on what seemed to be a lost cause and retrieved the ball from City's touchline, the striker then played a quality low ball across the face of the goal and Dougan was on hand at the back post to stick the ball away.
Dougan reeled away to the Deepdale crowd in celebration after scoring against the club that he played for as a youngster.
There was a late scare for Preston though in the 89th minute when City pulled a goal back through Benali who struck the ball through Comrie's legs. Then in the dying stages of the game, Olle rattled the North End crossbar with a stinging shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Nevertheless, Hoyland's side held on and recorded a fantastic cup win against the academy side. The North End players were ecstatic at full time after they had met the big occasion with a big performance which has guided them into the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
PNE: Dominic Comrie, Scott Leather, Sam Hart, George Miller (c), Bailey Wright, Daniel Devine, Tom Owens, Scott Davidson, Ryan McGreevy (Michael McLellan, 68), Jamie Proctor, Neil Dougan. Subs: Seanan Clucas, Jordan Watson, Fred Holtom, Cameron Parish.
Man City: Loris Karius, Tom Smith, Freddie Vesselli (Kim Skogsrud, 46), Reece Wabara, Sean Tse (Emirich Hippias, 83), Andrew Mitchell, Joan Angel Olle, Ahmed Benali (c), John Guddetti, Omar Ellabdellaoui, Jeremy Helan (Harry Bunn, 65). Subs: Erik Johansen, James Paris.
