Preston North End reserves were beaten 4-0 by Burnley in the Central League Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
A young PNE side fell behind in the opening three minutes against the Clarets, who gave minutes to first team players Han-Noah Massengo and Manuel Benson, before the lead was doubled by Kian Le Fondre 20 minutes in.
Massengo then made it three from the penalty spot in the final 15 minutes, and Lewis Richardson finished the scoring in the closing stages.
North End – made up of scholars and a few young professionals – were behind just three minutes in when Josh Seary stuck out a foot in an attempt to defend a corner from the right, but he inadvertently sent it through the legs of goalkeeper James Pradic.
Richardson came inches from doubling the hosts’ lead a few minutes later, while at the other end Max Wilson had a header saved.
Goalkeeper Charlie Casper was required again on 17 minutes to keep out Mikey O’Neill’s 20-yard attempt, before Pradic watched Massengo whistle a strike just wide.
From the resulting goal-kick, though, Le Fondre intercepted Tom Wilkinson’s pass out from the back and found Pradic’s bottom corner.
North End were still carrying a threat going forward, with Wilson heading narrowly wide on the half-hour mark, while O’Neill was lively and asking questions of the Burnley backline.
Pradic was required twice in the final stages of the half to keep the scoring down, tipping Bradley Grant’s effort wide before then denying Richardson.
North End were bright from the off in the second period as O’Neill broke through and had his goalbound effort deflected wide, and Ellis Horan’s corner then struck the post.
Burnley would have extended their advantage to three in the 50th minute if it wasn’t for a superb save from Pradic to tip Alex Healy-Byrne’s effort over the bar.
Goalmouth action was few and far between for the middle part of the half, although PNE were certainly competing well, but Joe Blake conceded a penalty in the 78th minute and Massengo stepped up to slot down the centre.
North End so nearly got on the scoresheet as Wilson glanced a header over the bar after good build-up play from O’Neill, before Richardson made it four to the hosts in the 87th minute from just a few yards out.
PNE line-up: Pradic; Blake, Wilkinson, McGhee; Seary, N.Mawene, Horan, Pasiek; O’Neill, Khan (Carroll, 52); Wilson. Subs not used: Davis, Critchley, Tarry, Goldsmith.