A brilliant second-half display from Preston North End U19s against Port Vale saw them secure their first win of the year at home.
The scoreline was opened by a thrilling header from Troy Tarry in the first half. Port Vale did manage to level the game through a penalty, but captain Max Wilson later put his side back in front in the 73rd minute with a goal of his own.
Theo Mawene’s free-kick seven minutes later ensured the Lilywhites got all three points at Springfields.
North End's backline started the fixture like a brick wall, with Jonny Brindle making a superb block to prevent a shot ending up in the back of the net, and Tommy Davis then made an exceptional save from a close-range effort 13 minutes in.
The deadlock was broken in the 31st minute by Tarry, when he met a curling cross from Brindle and towered over the defender to launch the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-0.
Andy Fensome’s men showed confidence for the rest of the half, with Adam Berry linking up with Wilson, and the latter comfortably turned away from the defender and got a shot off, but the ‘keeper managed to tip wide for a corner.
PNE were out the blocks quick in the second half, creating chances up at one end, however they fell short at the other. With a late decision, the referee awarded Port Vale a penalty after he adjudged an attacker to have been tripped, and they converted the penalty in the 56th minute.
The home side showed created character and determination to go on to dominate the rest of the game, and Wilson’s goal from close range put his side back in front in the 73rd minute.
All three points were acquired when a fantastic set piece from Mawene found the back of the net, with his excellently-struck free-kick going underneath the jumping Port Vale wall.
Speaking after the game, Fenners expressed how pleased he was with his side’s performance: “I think we did really well; we dominated both halves.
“I thought in the first half we just lacked a little bit of quality in the final third, but we played through the lines and we wanted to pass the ball forward to create chances which we did.
“Then in the second half the quality showed, for example with the free-kick and the second goal. But at times I just thought we dominated.”
Goalscorer and captain Wilson spoke after the game and stated how delighted he was to score and assist his team to victory.
“It is really good to get back on the scoresheet,” he said. “We haven’t played in three weeks, and I haven’t scored in as many games as I should have since coming back from injury.
“To get a goal is a boost for me and my confidence for future games.”