Preston North End were defeated 3-2 at home to Tranmere Rovers but will feel aggrieved to have left empty handed following a spirited late comeback.
The home side found themselves a goal down on 27 minutes, Tranmere's Max Power finding the ball at his feet after some hesitant defending and firing hard past 'keeper Dominic Comrie from inside the penalty area.
Tranmere doubled their lead after 53 minutes when Jack Mackreth latched onto a through ball and chipped the Preston 'keeper as he went to ground. The game was then seemingly put beyond doubt ten minutes later when Jay Gibbs passed the ball into the net from the edge of the area.
Preston were given a glimmer of hope when Jamie Proctor rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in after 73 minutes before midfielder Power was shown a straight red for kicking North End skipper George Miller. The numerical advantage soon showed when Proctor curled a shot high into the corner of the goal from just inside the area with five minutes left to play, sparking a frantic conclusion to the game.
PNE could have found themselves behind after just two minutes when Ross Rule poked wide from five yards out.
Jamie Hoyland chose to start the same 11 who played against Everton in the FA Cup on Thursday but were unable to show any attacking prowess in the first half, with strikers Proctor and Ryan McGreevy forced to come deep to collect the ball.
Preston had a penalty decision controversially turned down after 23 minutes when Neil Dougan was barged while attempting to latch onto a good ball from Tom Owens.
The away team carved open several chances throughout the first half and a communication error between the North End centre-backs resulted in a through-ball being deflected into the path of Power who blasted into the net.
Tranmere had soon doubled their lead when Mackreth found his way through Wright and full-back Sam Hart and lifted the ball smartly over the 'keeper as he went down to sweep the ball.
Comrie was forced into a fantastic point-blank save before the ball was put back into the area and passed into the side of the net by Gibbs.
Proctor and winger Dougan spearheaded Preston's attacks and combined well to give their side a way back into the game when Dougan squared the ball to young striker Proctor, who showed good technique to dribble around the 'keeper and stroke the ball into the net.
Power's red card for violent conduct spurred Preston to fight on, and some uncharacteristic route one football found Proctor on the left of the area, who curled his shot into the corner of the net.
Preston tried desperately to equalise late in the game with Wright, playing as a makeshift striker, heading over with his back to goal. With even more men thrown forward, Dougan had the crowd's hearts in their mouths when his last minute cross from the right crept inches wide.
Youth team manager Jamie Hoyland was in a frustrated mood after the game. He said: "I'm disappointed about the performance but fair play to Tranmere, they were the best side we've played all season and thoroughly deserved the victory."
"We went a bit direct to try and get ourselves back in the game, which isn't my way of playing. We probably should have nicked something but in the whole picture of the game we didn't deserve it."
"If we had a victory today it would have masked over a lot of things that were wrong."
PNE: Comrie, Leather, Hart, Miller (c), Wright, Devine (Holtom 87), Owens (Clucas 50), Davidson, McGreevy (Dudley 70), Proctor, Dougan.Subs: Watson
Tranmere: Coughlan, Pursehouse, Baker (c), Vaulks, Ashcroft, Roberts, Mackreth, Power, Jennings, Gibbs, Rule. Subs: Healing, McNamara, Bencon
Report by Chris Jones. Photos by Farran Photography.
