An immense first-half performance from Preston North End U19s saw them emphatically beat Salford City’s Academy 6-2 at Springfields in the Youth Alliance League.
The young Lilywhites raced into a four-goal lead inside the opening quarter of an hour, with Kacper Pasiek, Max Wilson, Ellis Horan and Charlie Goldsmith all scoring.
Horan and Tom Wilkinson added to the scoreline before the break, either side of a goal for the visitors, and Salford scored one more early in the second half, but North End were already well out of sight.
Four minutes is all the Lilywhites needed to open the scoreline. Pasiek was able to dribble the ball up the pitch and let fly, with his effort taking a deflection and ending up in the back of the net.
Only five minutes was needed for their lead to be doubled so early on, when Max Wilson finished off well following an exceptional ball which started a great team link-up from the midfield.
The early goals continued for the home side as Horan’s missile shot from distance flew past the ‘keeper in the 13th minute of the game, and Goldsmith then got himself on the scoresheet only seconds later after PNE applied vast pressure which forced a mistake and Goldsmith was there to capitalise.
Horan, who had scored a fantastic free-kick in last week’s game away at Port Vale, doubled his personal tally with another spectacular shot from distance. Andy Fensome’s men had ran away with the tie.
Salford City did manage to pull back a goal ten minutes before half-time, which looked like a glimmer of hope, but that was later dimmed by a header from Wilkinson, who met Horan’s cross right before the half ended.
Compared to the first, the second half was rather quiet, aside from the visitors scoring their second early on. However, due to a tremendous defensive display that was all they were able to get from the game.
Speaking after the game, Fenners said: “I thought we were excellent in the first half.
“The boys did exactly what we asked them to do before they went out. We asked them to press, pass and move the ball quickly and create chances, and I thought they did that in abundance in the first half.
“I thought the young lads did well. When they get the opportunity to come up to the U19s it is a really good experience, so I am really pleased for them.”
Goalscorer and captain for the game, Wilkinson shed light on how he felt after scoring and the match as a whole.
He said: “It’s always nice seeing your other teammates scoring so sometimes you want to score too, so I went up for the corner and it was nice to put one in the back of the net.
“I’m quite confident when I go up for a header because I’m one of the biggest lads on the pitch.
“It was a strong victory. We won 6-2 so we just have to use this to move more and keep pushing forward week after week and it gives us the confidence to keep going.”
PNE U19 line-up: Davis (Stowell, 45), Blake, Khan, Horan (Nolan, 76), Wilkinson, Pasiek (Muir, 45), Eccleston, Carroll, Goldsmith, Fowler, Wilson (Ifezue, 54). Subs not used: Critchley.