The youth team avenged for their home defeat to Shrewsbury Town last month by defeating the Shropshire side at Shrewsbury Sports Village with a 2-0 win on Saturday morning.
Goals from Kyi Nicholson – his first for North End’s U18 side – and Louis Potts before the midpoint of the first half were enough to win the day for Nick Harrison’s outfit.
Having had a break in their schedule last weekend, Harrison, the Academy manager, made two changes from the side that beat Oldham Athletic in the last game, two weeks ago.
Lincoln McFayden and Tyrhys Dolan, both of whom have since joined Clitheroe FC on a work experience loan, were replaced in the starting line-up by Lewis Coulton and Aaron Bennett.
The young Lilywhites made a bright start to the contest and were ahead after 18 minutes.
It was Nicholson who opened the scoring, with an element of fortune about the goal, as U15 full back Josh Seary’s low ball forward was diverted back towards the goalkeeper with Nicholson lurking.
It was a loose touch and that presented the chance to Nicholson, but he showed a cool head from there, rounding the opposition goalkeeper and placing the ball into an empty net.
Three minutes later and the away side doubled their lead. Goalkeeper Oliver Lombard’s kick forwards caused his opposite number in the Shrewsbury goal serious trouble as the ball bounced in front of him awkwardly.
Potts sensed the danger and challenged the ‘keeper for the ball in the air and winning it as it came back down, allowing him to poke the ball into the top corner, on the bounce, from just inside the Shrewsbury area.
Those efforts were enough to seal the points for North End, with goalkeeper Oliver Lombard managing to keep a second clean sheet in a row.
Kian Taylor, Finlay Cross-Adair and Noah Mawene – son of former North End defender Youl – all U15s, were afforded their first youth team appearances off the bench in the final ten minutes of the contest.
The young charges will be back at UCLan Sports Arena next weekend for the visit of Carlisle United in an 11am kick-off.
PNE line-up: Lombard; Seary, Earl, Blanchard, Coulton; Nolan, McManus; Nicholson (Taylor, 82), Bennett (Mawene, 88), Holland-Wilkinson (Cross-Adair, 86); Potts (Huddart, 65). Subs not used: Pedley.