PNE’s Academy got back to winning ways at the weekend with a 4-2 win over Carlisle United at Springfields.
Goals from James Boyd and Michael Howard either side of a Dylan Davidson brace secured the three points for the Lilywhites.
North End dominated the opening period, and opened the scoring through James Boyd who fired home from the penalty spot giving Nick Harrison’s side a deserved lead.
There were plenty of chances for PNE in the opening stages, who could have had the game out of sight by half-time, but the early pressure started to fade midway through the first half.
North End were punished minutes before the break as some sloppy defending from a corner led to conceding a penalty and Carlisle’s Carl Taylor slotted past Roberts to level the score at the interval.
After a disappointing end to the first half, things got worse for PNE as Carlisle took the lead moments in to the second period, Max Brown taking advantage of a defensive error.
It was from then that the young North End boys showed real character, showing glimpses of the impressive play in the first half, the scores were level again after an excellent solo goal from Davidson.
A quick counter attack led by goalkeeper Callum Roberts, the ‘keeper released Davidson who showed real class to beat the four players around him before an outstanding finish from outside the box.
From then on there looked to be only one winner, PNE dominating the remainder of the second half.
Davidson had Harrison’s side back in front through another superb goal, the cross into the box was a good one and the forward slotted home comfortably.
The win was rounded off with another classy goal from PNE’s youngsters, some good quick passing play into second half substitute Michael Howard led to the fourth for North End.
Howard, a member of the Under 16s side, picked up the ball just inside the Carlisle half and burst towards goal before slotting home to complete the scoring.
It was a well-earned victory, and manager Nick Harrison was delighted to see his side return to winning ways after defeat a few days earlier.
Speaking after the game, the Academy boss said: “In terms of the result it was very pleasing for the boys to get back to winning ways after losing on Saturday, in what was a mixed game in terms of performance.
“We started off very bright, we could have really been three or four up in the first ten or fifteen minutes and probably should have been.
“We deserved the penalty which James Boyd scored, and after twenty minutes or so we took our foot off the gas a little bit and stopped doing the things that we had been doing well that had given us a bit of success in the early stages of the first half.
We were a bit disappointed with conceding just before the break because for the first period of the first half we were excellent, we passed the ball well and created chances and probably should have been well in front.
“We challenged the players at half time to get back to that, and again it was a little bit disappointing that we conceded in the first few minutes of the second half, from once again a bit of sloppy play.
“After that we got back into the game and it was an excellent solo goal from Dylan Davidson then at 2-2 we controlled the game before Dylan scored again to make it 3-2
“That was on the back of some good possession and dictating the play and we finished that off in a bit of style in terms of the last goal.
“We probably deserved to win, our performance was probably better on Saturday when we lost the game as an overall performance.
“I think in the second half the lads showed good character, they showed their quality towards the end. What I think they have to do and what they need to learn from it is don’t stop doing the things that get you success.
“Even if it doesn’t’ quite work for you first time you’ve got to keep going and show that discipline and that patience and it will come off eventually, that’s what they ended up doing in the second half.”
North End dominated the opening period, and opened the scoring through James Boyd who fired home from the penalty spot giving Nick Harrison’s side a deserved lead.
There were plenty of chances for PNE in the opening stages, who could have had the game out of sight by half-time, but the early pressure started to fade midway through the first half.
North End were punished minutes before the break as some sloppy defending from a corner led to conceding a penalty and Carlisle’s Carl Taylor slotted past Roberts to level the score at the interval.
After a disappointing end to the first half, things got worse for PNE as Carlisle took the lead moments in to the second period, Max Brown taking advantage of a defensive error.
It was from then that the young North End boys showed real character, showing glimpses of the impressive play in the first half, the scores were level again after an excellent solo goal from Davidson.
A quick counter attack led by goalkeeper Callum Roberts, the ‘keeper released Davidson who showed real class to beat the four players around him before an outstanding finish from outside the box.
From then on there looked to be only one winner, PNE dominating the remainder of the second half.
Davidson had Harrison’s side back in front through another superb goal, the cross into the box was a good one and the forward slotted home comfortably.
The win was rounded off with another classy goal from PNE’s youngsters, some good quick passing play into second half substitute Michael Howard led to the fourth for North End.
Howard, a member of the Under 16s side, picked up the ball just inside the Carlisle half and burst towards goal before slotting home to complete the scoring.
It was a well-earned victory, and manager Nick Harrison was delighted to see his side return to winning ways after defeat a few days earlier.
Speaking after the game, the Academy boss said: “In terms of the result it was very pleasing for the boys to get back to winning ways after losing on Saturday, in what was a mixed game in terms of performance.
“We started off very bright, we could have really been three or four up in the first ten or fifteen minutes and probably should have been.
“We deserved the penalty which James Boyd scored, and after twenty minutes or so we took our foot off the gas a little bit and stopped doing the things that we had been doing well that had given us a bit of success in the early stages of the first half.
We were a bit disappointed with conceding just before the break because for the first period of the first half we were excellent, we passed the ball well and created chances and probably should have been well in front.
“We challenged the players at half time to get back to that, and again it was a little bit disappointing that we conceded in the first few minutes of the second half, from once again a bit of sloppy play.
“After that we got back into the game and it was an excellent solo goal from Dylan Davidson then at 2-2 we controlled the game before Dylan scored again to make it 3-2
“That was on the back of some good possession and dictating the play and we finished that off in a bit of style in terms of the last goal.
“We probably deserved to win, our performance was probably better on Saturday when we lost the game as an overall performance.
“I think in the second half the lads showed good character, they showed their quality towards the end. What I think they have to do and what they need to learn from it is don’t stop doing the things that get you success.
“Even if it doesn’t’ quite work for you first time you’ve got to keep going and show that discipline and that patience and it will come off eventually, that’s what they ended up doing in the second half.”