Preston North End U19s secured a fifth successive victory on Saturday as they won 4-0 against Carlisle United Academy.
The victory started off smoothly, as Charlie Goldsmith scored the opener within the first two minutes, before Theo Mawene doubled the lead in the 15th minute.
The goals continued in the second half for North End, as Max Wilson got himself on the scoresheet along with Kacper Pasiek who scored in the 89th minute.
Going into the match after four wins from four in September, the confidence showed inside just two minutes as Goldsmith set the pace with a composed finish in front of goal.
Mawene was then able to chest down a brilliant cross from Pasiek in the 15th minute and he struck perfectly past goalkeeper Jacob Barry to make it two.
Andy Fensome's side continued to play great football and a corner from Jonny Brindle whipped into the box almost led to a third, but Cole McGhee’s header hit the side netting.
Defensively, PNE were exceptional, epitomised by defender Tom Wilkinson who was forced to make a brilliant challenge to prevent the dangerous counter attack that Carlisle threatened with.
The home side left it late in the second half to add to their tally, with a goal from Wilson in the 83rd minute. There was some confusion over whether the ball had crossed the line or not, but the intervention of the linesman ensured PNE went three to the good.
Just six minutes later, Pasiek got himself on the scoresheet as North End’s No.3 maintained coolness in front of goal and slid the ball past the ‘keeper to round off a 4-0 victory.
North End were able to win and keep a clean sheet for the first time this season, something coach John Welsh was pleased with.
He said: “It is a credit to them to be fair. As coaches we are always quite critical.
“When it is an attacker and they miss chances, it is usually a case of asking them to score the next one. With the defenders it is a bit more detailed like, ‘We should have done this’.
“They’ve come in from a bit of a bad time. They’ve probably conceded too many goals this season, so we asked if we could keep a clean sheet.
“We say that to them every game, can we defend properly and can we do the things that they’ve done well today?
“They blocked shots, won headers, first contacts and second balls, and for them to do it today is brilliant.
“It just shows that the work they’ve been doing on the training ground and the messages they’ve been receiving are starting to work, and hopefully they can see the benefits of it because we definitely have today.”
Speaking in an interview after the game, goalscorer Goldsmith also shared his views on his early strike for his side and how it helped the team in the victory.
Charlie said: “I think scoring early made the team feel more confident, especially when you score dead early on it puts them on the back foot straight away.
“Also for me, I think it boosted my confidence all game.”
PNE line-up: Davis, Wilkinson, Pasiek, Kamara (Caulfield, 86), McGhee, Brindle, Eccleston (Havard, 45), T.Mawene (Horan, 70), Goldsmith, Khan (Whalley, 86), Wilson.