Preston North End reserves were held to a 1-1 draw in the Central League Cup against Morecambe, as Joe Rodwell-Grant's goal was cancelled out in the second half.
The forward, currently on loan at Bamber Bridge, had put his side ahead at Euxton, slamming the ball into the roof of the net on 26 minutes, but Freddie Price’s effort from the edge of the box in the second half earned his side a point.
North End fielded a mixture of youth and experience for this fixture, with the likes of Paul Huntington and Joe Rafferty involved, as well as Academy players such as Lewis Leigh and Josh Seary.
Despite being played at Euxton, Morecambe were officially the home team – having requested the venue be changed – but the hosts on the day came closest early on, with Jamie Thomas showing quick feet and firing goalwards, seeing Kyle Letheran tip over.
The Shrimps then had a great chance on 22 minutes, with Adam Phillips sending a free-kick into a dangerous area, which Freddie Price headed inches wide.
It was North End who took the front, though, a few minutes later, with Joe Rafferty feeding Rodwell-Grant, who took the ball in, turned and hammered into the roof of the net.
Morecambe had a few chances to draw level after the half-hour mark, firstly with Courtney Duffus volleying over from around ten yards, while Aaron Wildig headed straight at Mathew Hudson in the PNE goal.
Midfielder Lewis Leigh could have taken his side into the break with a two-goal advantage, as he was found in the area by Matthew Olosunde, but he blazed his effort over the crossbar.
Olosunde was replaced at the break by Teddy Mfuni and there wasn’t much goalmouth action in the opening stages of the second half, until the ball fell to Aaron Wildig 12 yards out after the hour mark, however his shot flew over the bar.
Morecambe got their equaliser on 70 minutes, as Price found the bottom corner with a curling left-footed effort, moments after Hudson had pulled off a smart stop to deny substitute Shayon Harrison from a one-on-one.
North End tried to find a winner late on through the likes of sub Mikey O'Neill and Thomas, but the points were shared at the training ground, meaning PNE take seven points from their three group games.
With today's fixture being Morecambe's first of the group stage, the Lilywhites will need to wait and see if they make it through to the knockout stages.
PNE line-up: Hudson; Seary, Huntington, Coulton; Olosunde (Mfuni, 45), Rafferty, Leigh, Thomas, Slater (O’Neill, 77); Rodwell-Grant, Holland-Wilkinson. Subs not used: Pradic, Nevin, Best.
Morecambe line-up: Letheran; Cooney, Wootton, Mensah (C), Gibson; Phillips, Wildig, Price; Obika (Harrison, 60), Duffus (Mayor, 76), McPake. Subs not used: Lawton, Pye, Huddleston.
Referee: Mr L Griffiths