PNE U19 started the season in style as they fired nine past Oldham Athletic in a 9-1 win on the opening day to secure all three points.
Finlay Cross-Adair, Kitt Nelson and Kian Best had doubles, while Noah Mawene, Dana Amaral and Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile also found the back of the net.
North End almost scored in the first two minutes, Lewis Leigh’s free-kick was parried out by the keeper, Amaral was there for the rebound, but Alfie Brindley-Smith in the Oldham goal recovered well to make the save.
The visitors did take the lead though just a couple of minutes later. A corner was whipped into the far post towards James Pradic but he was unable to keep hold of the ball and Oldham were ahead.
Even after the goal North End dominated and would have been back on level terms on multiple occasions if it wasn't for some fantastic goalkeeping from Brindley-Smith.
The Lilywhites did equalise in the 23rd minute though, Nelson picked the ball up outside the box, danced around the Oldham defenders and finished brilliantly in the bottom right-hand corner to level the score.
Just two minutes later North End took the lead. The ball dropped to Amaral on the edge of the box, and he calmly slotted the ball past the keeper.
Just like that North End had a third goal seven minutes later. This time Cross-Adair was played in on goal and fired a ferocious shot into the left-hand side of the net.
Oldham had no answer for the boys in white, Best ventured forward from the back and fired a thunderbolt past the keeper and into the bottom right-hand corner.
As the game approached half-time, North End weren’t finished, Nelson got his second and PNE's fifth as he rose highest to guide his header into the top right-hand corner.
The Lilywhites didn’t slow down in the second half, as Mawene made it six just ten minutes into the half and it was great work from Cross-Adair to find Mawene free in the box for him to slot home.
Then it was time for North End to make their first change. Leigh made way after a really solid first competitive performance since his nasty injury and on came Rodriguez-Gentile.
Just three minutes after coming on the substitute made it seven. The ball dropped out to the young forward on the edge of the area and he volleyed a great effort past the keeper.
Two more changes for North End saw Jacob Slater and Amaral make way for first year scholars Cole McGhee and Ellis Horan.
The relentless Lilywhites still wanted more, and they got more with Cross-Adair adding an eighth. It was smart thinking from Cross-Adair to take a quick free kick, he found Rodriguez-Gentile who played a lovely pass back to Cross-Adair and he fired the ball past the keeper for his second of the game. .
North End’s final change came 15 minutes from time seeing Nelson make way for another first year scholar Kaedyn Kamara.
Searching for a hattrick, Cross-Adair blasted an effort towards goal from the edge of the area, but it cannoned back off the cross bar.
As the game was drawing to a close North End found time to add one more. Once again Best ventured forward from the back and unleashed a wicked effort to once again find the bottom right-hand corner to complete the scoring.
Manager Nick Harrison was extremely pleased with his team’s performance, and speaking after the game, he said: “It was an incredible performance and obviously a great result,"
“It’s good for us to get off to a good start in the league, it really was a great performance.
“The way the team passed the ball, created chances and played together as a team was outstanding and really good to see.”
Ten new scholars have been added to the group and Harrison is pleased with their efforts so far.
“I’ve been really pleased with the young players, “spoke Harrison.
“Youth football it’s like a conveyor belt, players get older and move on and we then welcome in a new set of young talented players.
“We help the players with the principals and the structure of the game, we just let the players go and play, they are the ones that have to do it if they want to be a professional footballer and have a great career.”
PNEU19 are back in action next week as they travel away to Stockport County. Follow the latest news from the Academy and live match updates on Twitter, @pnefcacademy.