A very young Academy side lost 2-0 to Rochdale at Victory Park, Callum Schorah and James Hooper grabbing the goals for the visitors.
On a rough pitch and in windy conditions, Dale dug in scoring twice in the second half after PNE stopper Ross Dalton had saved a penalty before the break.
The first chance of the game came after just five minutes, when the bullish Dominic Reid went down in the area and appealed for a penalty.
However, referee Dave Gillon waved for play to continue.
Preston North End responded well and came close to grabbing the opening goal.
The Lilywhites’ number No.8 Bradley Wicks fired a dipping shot just wide of Rhys Lovett's goal from thirty yards out.
Rochdale were the first side to have the ball in the back of the net, however, it was disallowed for an obvious offside.
A good flicked header from Harry Pratt had sent Hooper through on goal but the striker had strayed just offside.
It was Reid again with a good chance on the half hour mark.
A left wing corner was recycled by Yomi Samuels and the ball fell to Reid who pivoted on the ball but he could only fire over the stand.
The real turning point in the game came in the 34th minute when Dale were awarded a penalty.
A strong left wing run from defender Schorah ended in the left back spraying a delightful diagonal ball up field.
The pass was received by Hooper who was about to pull the trigger before being pulled down in the area and the spot-kick was given.
Reid stepped up to take the penalty and fired towards goal, but was denied by Preston keeper Dalton who saved strongly.
Preston started the second half the better of the two sides and had the first chance to break the deadlock.
North End striker James Boyd found himself in a promising position in Dale's area but fired over Lovett's goal.
The deadlock was eventually broken just after the hour mark though as Schorah scored from a yard out.
Powerful wing play from Hooper, combining skill and determination found him in the box, and the forward fired a low cross across the face of the goal, with Schorah tapping in from close range.
Three minutes later Dale nearly had their second but Reid's close range shot grazed North End’s left hand post.
With ten minutes to go, the game really opened up with the PNE needing that all important equaliser.
And as Nick Harrison’s men piled forward, they were left vulnerable to the counter attack, Hooper and substitute Jack Stewart, having two chances to score in a matter of minutes.
Firstly, Stewart set up Hooper who had his shot saved well from close range. Then Stewart fired his twenty yard shot just over the bar.
Rochdale's second goal did eventually come in stoppage time, securing three points.
A ball up field from ‘keeper Lovett landed at the feet of Schorah. And the left back played the ball across to Hooper, who fired into the net to make it 2-0.
PNE starting line-up: Dalton, Quigley, Jagne, Joseph-Robinson, Hancox, Hagon, Crankshaw, Nicks, Roberts, Boyd, Gazl.
The first chance of the game came after just five minutes, when the bullish Dominic Reid went down in the area and appealed for a penalty.
However, referee Dave Gillon waved for play to continue.
Preston North End responded well and came close to grabbing the opening goal.
The Lilywhites’ number No.8 Bradley Wicks fired a dipping shot just wide of Rhys Lovett's goal from thirty yards out.
Rochdale were the first side to have the ball in the back of the net, however, it was disallowed for an obvious offside.
A good flicked header from Harry Pratt had sent Hooper through on goal but the striker had strayed just offside.
It was Reid again with a good chance on the half hour mark.
A left wing corner was recycled by Yomi Samuels and the ball fell to Reid who pivoted on the ball but he could only fire over the stand.
The real turning point in the game came in the 34th minute when Dale were awarded a penalty.
A strong left wing run from defender Schorah ended in the left back spraying a delightful diagonal ball up field.
The pass was received by Hooper who was about to pull the trigger before being pulled down in the area and the spot-kick was given.
Reid stepped up to take the penalty and fired towards goal, but was denied by Preston keeper Dalton who saved strongly.
Preston started the second half the better of the two sides and had the first chance to break the deadlock.
North End striker James Boyd found himself in a promising position in Dale's area but fired over Lovett's goal.
The deadlock was eventually broken just after the hour mark though as Schorah scored from a yard out.
Powerful wing play from Hooper, combining skill and determination found him in the box, and the forward fired a low cross across the face of the goal, with Schorah tapping in from close range.
Three minutes later Dale nearly had their second but Reid's close range shot grazed North End’s left hand post.
With ten minutes to go, the game really opened up with the PNE needing that all important equaliser.
And as Nick Harrison’s men piled forward, they were left vulnerable to the counter attack, Hooper and substitute Jack Stewart, having two chances to score in a matter of minutes.
Firstly, Stewart set up Hooper who had his shot saved well from close range. Then Stewart fired his twenty yard shot just over the bar.
Rochdale's second goal did eventually come in stoppage time, securing three points.
A ball up field from ‘keeper Lovett landed at the feet of Schorah. And the left back played the ball across to Hooper, who fired into the net to make it 2-0.
PNE starting line-up: Dalton, Quigley, Jagne, Joseph-Robinson, Hancox, Hagon, Crankshaw, Nicks, Roberts, Boyd, Gazl.