Preston North End’s Academy team were beaten 4-2 away to Walsall in their second league game of the season.
It has not been the best start for Nick Harrison’s side having lost to Oldham at home in their first match, however there are positives to take from the game and they will be hoping to get their first three points of the season this weekend when they face Port Vale.
It was a tough first half for the young side, who conceded four goals in the first 45 minutes, but a stronger second half performance helped them to reduce the deficit.
Josh Brownhill first came close to scoring with a powerful freekick, for it to rebound off the crossbar before being cleared by the defence.
Later on in the second half, PNE got their chance when some clumsy defending by Walsall, led to a penalty for the North End lads. Jack Ryan stepped up to take it, but it was parried by the Walsall ‘keeper before Captain Josh Brownhill took advantage of the rebound to make the score 4-1.
It was another penalty that made the scoreline 4-2, with Jack Ryan again being called up on to try to score from the spot. A good save by Richard Jones denied Ryan his goal, but he made sure that the rebound crossed the line to reduce the difference to just two goals.
The scoreline remained 4-2 and the young side will be aiming to improve before their next league game and will be hoping to replicate some of the good form they showed in pre-season, including a win over Manchester United.