PNE U18s get back to winning ways with a convincing away victory against Hartlepool
Preston North End U18s booked their place in the last 16 of the Youth Alliance Cup thanks to goals from Sean Whelan and Jonathan Lunney.
The Lilywhites made the 130 mile trip with three changes to the 11 that lost against Wigan in mid-week with Mathew Hudson, Lewis Fensome and Oliver Crankshaw coming into the side in place of Mathew Hudson Akwasi Kwateng and Adam Joseph Robinson.
After a forgetable first-half with chances sparse, the hosts were reduced to ten men after the break, prompting North End to take the game to their opponents.
But the visitors gained the lead in bizarre circumstances - a long ball played by Whelan somehow found its way past numerous Pool players and into the net, giving PNE the lead with 15 to go.
And Nick Harrison's side all but secured their passage into the next round when Pool were reduced to nine men - Lunney stepping up to take the resulting free-kick which cannoned into the top corner.
PNE XI: Hudson, Fensome, Whelan, Jagne, Tait, Earl, Crankshaw, Meulensteen, A James Robinson, Boyd, Lunney.
PNE Subs vs Hartlepool: A Joseph Robinson, Roberts, Davidson, Barry, Howard
The Lilywhites made the 130 mile trip with three changes to the 11 that lost against Wigan in mid-week with Mathew Hudson, Lewis Fensome and Oliver Crankshaw coming into the side in place of Mathew Hudson Akwasi Kwateng and Adam Joseph Robinson.
After a forgetable first-half with chances sparse, the hosts were reduced to ten men after the break, prompting North End to take the game to their opponents.
But the visitors gained the lead in bizarre circumstances - a long ball played by Whelan somehow found its way past numerous Pool players and into the net, giving PNE the lead with 15 to go.
And Nick Harrison's side all but secured their passage into the next round when Pool were reduced to nine men - Lunney stepping up to take the resulting free-kick which cannoned into the top corner.
PNE XI: Hudson, Fensome, Whelan, Jagne, Tait, Earl, Crankshaw, Meulensteen, A James Robinson, Boyd, Lunney.
PNE Subs vs Hartlepool: A Joseph Robinson, Roberts, Davidson, Barry, Howard