Preston North End U19s extended their unbeaten start to 2024 with an impressive 4-1 comeback victory away to Shrewsbury Town.
The hosts, who won their three games in February without conceding, took the lead early on through Luca Whitney, but PNE were soon level through Charlie Goldsmith.
Strikes from Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile and Theo Mawene then gave North End a two-goal lead at the break, before Rodriguez-Gentile scored his second of the day in the 78th minute.
League leaders PNE had an opportunity to open the scoring in the eighth minute after good work from Goldsmith, but a home defender ensured his pass didn’t reach Rodriguez-Gentile.
Salop then went in front in the 17th minute as a ball played in behind the North End defence reached Whitney, and he lifted it over Tommy Davis.
Eight minutes later, though, PNE were level. Mawene played a lofted pass over to Rodriguez-Gentile and the young forward flicked on for Goldsmith, who fired it into the top corner with a half-volley.
North End’s young Argentine got on the scoresheet himself in the 33rd minute as he showed clever feet before placing an effort into the bottom left corner.
Four minutes later, PNE strengthened their position through Mawene, who received the ball from Cole McGhee and fired past the goalkeeper from distance.
Ayden Garrigan came on at half-time and he so nearly had a goal of his own just two minutes into the second period, only to see his effort cleared off the line, and Ellis Horan’s follow-up was then deflected wide.
A couple of Mawene efforts came close to extending North End’s advantage before the fourth did arrive in the 78th minute, as Rodriguez-Gentile picked up the ball on the halfway line and broke forward to slot past the goalkeeper and round off a brilliant victory on the road.
The win leaves PNE in a good position at the top of the table, ten points ahead of second-placed Wrexham, who have two games in hand.
PNE U19 line-up: Davis, Blake, Brindle, Horan, Wilkinson, McGhee, Eccleston (Garrigan, 45), Kamara (Critchley, 82), Rodriguez-Gentile, T.Mawene, Goldsmith (Carroll, 67). Subs not used: Stowell, Stringfellow.