[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Woodburn, Holmes Salford City 2 McLennan 2

Salford win 4-2 on penalties

PNE line-up: Cornell; Storey (Hughes, 45), Bauer, Whatmough; Seary (Browne, 71), Leigh (McCann, 45), Taylor (Ledson, 45), Holmes (Frøkjær, 78), Best; Woodburn, Keane. Subs not used: Woodman, Lindsay, Rodriguez-Gentile, Mawene.

Salford City line-up: Cairns; Mariappa, Vassell, Tilt (Shephard, 72); Bolton (Lund, 8), Mallan, Watson (Ashley, 71), Garbutt; McAleny; Hendry (Smith, 71), McLennan (Bailey, 90+3). Subs not used: Wright, Berkoe, Dackers, Henderson.

Attendance: 6,790 (413 Salford City fans).

A game which started slowly and ended up a fairly entertaining game saw City win on penalties, six decent penalties a woeful penlty by Ledson and Mads put his wide of the post. Fair play to 17 year old Kian Best keeper wasn't saving his kick.



A decent night for the game, Lowe stated in his programme notes a side would be sent out to compete although personal view playing four youngsters was risk laden and so it proved.
Early home pressure first Salford attack and they score, Best is going to be a good player no doubt about it but Salford found a massiv e gap behind him on the right hand side, ball into the box not properly cleared and McLennan fired home.
This stunned the already quiet home crowd, with the goal Salford apssed it around nicely and our inexperience especially in the middle of the pitch showed, Holmes also making his debut showed a willingness to run at defenders and also have shots.
Getting to half time 1 down would have been probably acceptable with more experience players coming on. But that thought seemed distance when Whatmough making his debut as captain passed to McLennan advanced on goal and easily scored.
Arrears were soon reduced when we passed the ball about in front of the City box, Holmes played in Woodburn he slotted the ball past Cairns who stood with his hand raised waiting for the whistle that never came
Level soon after the break Cairns pass out to a defender was easily intercepted by Holmes no mistake level.
The pace of the game had increased and was decent entertainment, the unlucky Keane fired one in Cairns parried it but McCann's follow up header was blocked by the keeper.
Attempts rained in on the Salford goal twice the ball was in the net both disallowed efforts by Keane, buut close to trhe end the visitors should have wrapped it up, long ball in from the right Smith doing what he has done for years heads ball back into the six yard box were Matty Lund missed the target. Then came the ordeal from 12 yards



Good luck to Salford in the next round opportunity missed by North End, play a side that will win not one that will think win.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The first half wasn't what we wanted. I know we've got a few youngsters in there, and there's no blame on them - we've got seniors in there as well.

"The second half was better after we made a couple of changes and probably should have had a couple more goals.

"We're disappointed going out of the competition but our number one priority is the Championship.

"Taking nothing away from them, they were good, especially first half, and dealt well with some pressure of ours. They were excellent and we just weren't at it."

Salford manager Neil Wood told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We wanted to try and follow up from Saturday and it was a game we knew we could win.

"By the end of the game they had a pretty good team on the pitch and caused us plenty of problems.

"Connor took his goals really well but conceding just before half-time was a killer.

"Second half we had some good moments but were masters of our own downfall with some mistakes and we don't need to concede that second goal in the way we conceded it."