Preston North End youths grinded out a win away to Bury to put them three points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
Tom Owens slotted home a penalty eight minuets before the end to give his side a well earned victory.
North End started with a lot of early possession and after two minutes centre back Daniel Devine found himself in a promising position but headed over from the corner.
Hoyland had his team well organised and Bury were not being allowed to play. North End's midfield dominated the whole match and closed the Bury attackers down quickly.
The Shakers never really looked like a threat in front of goal and were being forced to shoot from outside the box, shooting over the majority of the time.
After 17 minuets Jamie Proctor, who was playing wide right, broke at the edge of the area. The attack looked promising but Proctor's attempted through ball to Ryan McGreevy caught the striker in an offside position.
Ten minutes before the end of the first half, Proctor was again involved, this time switching wings with Neil Dougan to try and change things. Instead of North End breaking the deadlock, Bury could have been one up. Luke McCarthy beat North End defender Sam Hart and laid a perfectly weighted ball to the onrushing Danny Husdon who shot over from four yards out. This was a big let off for Preston when Bury really could have easily taken the lead.
North End reacted quickly and after a nice move Hart whipped a ball in from the left where Scott Davidson headed towards goal, but the header went straight into the goalkeeper's arms.
Preston had a chance to go into the lead before the break. After a through ball was lofted over towards McGreevy, the Bury keeper decided to rush out and sliced his clearance. The ball fell to Owens, 35 yards out, but his shot went wide.
In the second half the manager decided to change it and have two up top so on came striker Michael McLellan for Davidson.
North End thought they should have had a penalty after 62 minuets. McLellan's good work earnt his side a corner which was headed on by Fred Holtam and the ball seemed to strike a Bury defender on the arm. Despite claims by the Preston players the referee waved play on.
However with eight minuets left on the clock North End did win a penalty. Substitute Seanan Clucas was brought down 30 yards out and again Hart whipped the free kick in towards Holtom who headed towards goal, but Bury defender Andrai Jones handled in the area. Despite the handball, Dougan had put the ball in the back of the net, but the referee had already blown for a spot kick.
Owens was the kick taker and coolly slotted home from the spot. He sent the keeper the wrong way and buried the ball in the bottom right corner.
North End were holding on to their lead and good pressure from goalscorer Owens forced Bury into rushing their play and giving possession back to the Lilywhites. Owens was consistent in the heart of the Preston midfield all game.
Manager Hoyland said after the game: "It was a very tough game and Bury is always a hard place to come to. We came here last year and we were 3-0 down but we came back to win 5-3, so I always know its going to be tough.
"All credit to the boys, we kept going and in the end we got the penalty and the win."
PNE: Dominic Comrie, Scott Leather, Fred Holtom, Daniel Devine, Sam Hart, Tom Owens, George Miller (c), Scott Davidson (Michael McLellan, 51), Neil Dougan, Jamie Proctor, Ryan McGreevy (Seanan Clucas, 68). Unused subs: Cameron Parish.
Bury: Ritchie Brangan, Ryan Barrow, Zach Rothwell, Kyle McGonigle, Andrai Jones, Krishnan Patel (cpt), Luke McCarthy, Adam Dawson (Connor Loftus, 88), Danny Husdon, Billy Hudson, Billy Crawshaw, Lee Pugh. Unused subs: Danny Fradd, Jordan Melia, Shaun Mangan.
Report by Joshua Engleman
