[themaclad]

Maguire and Browne both make their first starts for the Republic

[themaclad]

Port Vale U18 2 PNE U18 4


The youth team put in a fantastic away performance to beat Port Vale 4-2 on Saturday.

Ethan Walker and Lewis Simmons scored inside ten minutes to put the Lilywhites ahead before James Steele pulled one back midway through the first-half.

Second-half substitute Louis Potts then netted a brace before Harry Benns scored a stoppage-time consolation for the hosts.

North End’s dominance was evident from the first whistle, the visitors needing just four minutes to break the deadlock.

Captain Lewis Fensome played a testing diagonal to the left side of the box and following a scramble, Josh Pollard nudged it back for Walker to curl a brilliant finish into the far right corner.

The same duo helped to set up PNE’s second after eight minutes. Fensome’s low cross from the right flashed across goal out to Walker on the left, who cut back onto his right foot and crossed for Simmons to nod home in the centre.

Myles Mason could have made it three in the next attack when he beat goalkeeper Mawgan Blight, who had rushed off his line, to the ball around 40 yards from goal, but delayed his shot for too long and the chance was gone.

Simmons nearly had a second when he won back possession in Vale’s own box but blazed his shot just over the right-hand post.

In the 22nd minute, the hosts struck against the run of play. Matthew Ward sent in an inviting delivery from the right and Steele, Vale’s captain, got a touch to divert it past ‘keeper Callum Lenton.

Fensome very nearly cancelled that out almost immediately when he made a surging late run into the box to meet Walker’s left-wing cross, but his header crashed against the left-hand post.

Tyrhys Dolan and Pollard both sent efforts from outside the box over the bar before Simmons cleared superbly ahead of Lucas Green-Birch in first-half stoppage-time to preserve North End’s lead at the break.

There was a noticeable improvement from the home side after the interval, with Lenton forced into early action when he gathered a through ball in the box aimed for an in-space Kyle Johnson.

But the visitors were left generally untroubled in terms of conceding chances, youth team debutant Joe Nolan placing a shot from the edge of the box just over within ten minutes of the restart.

On the hour, Walker shot into Blight’s grasp at a tight angle from Simmons’ delivery.

Walker turned provider moments later with a beautiful flick into Dolan’s path on the edge of the box, who saw his low curling effort parried towards Kamol Campbell, whose low cross was just ahead of Potts.

The Lilywhites got a deserved third in the 75th minute – albeit thanks to some good fortune.

Potts held it up well down the right flank as he looked to hang a cross up to the back post from the byline, but his delivery instead floated into the top left corner.

There was no doubt about the striker’s intentions in the 84th minute as he made it 1-4. Pollard played a fine through ball into the box from deep to find Potts, who only needed one touch to slide the ball under Blight with the outside of his right foot.

Lenton was forced into a rare stop as he held Steele’s long-range strike but there was still time for the hosts to net again.

In the first minute of added time, Benns took down a corner and half volleyed in at the near post, that the final meaningful act of a fine morning’s work for the Lilywhites.

Following a quick start, youth team manager Nick Harrison praised his players for maintaining their performance level throughout the game.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the performance on and off the ball,” he told PNE.com. “We’ve had these kinds of performances throughout the season but haven’t always put the ball in the back of the net. We got a little bit of luck in front of goal today but we were clinical as well.

“We got the early 2-0 lead, which was a great start, and I thought we went on from there in a positive way. We passed the ball well, the movement was very good and we created a number of chances. We could have gone in at half-time with three or four goals rather than two as well.

“The quality of the ball into the box was better today and more importantly the finish. We created a number of chances we could have scored from as well, so we will keep working on all parts of the game, whether it’s putting balls in the box from out wide or attacking centrally.

“We had a young team so players are going to switch off at times which they did, certainly for the first goal. But I thought how we played for 98 per cent of the game was fantastic and we’re really pleased with the players.”
Harrison was also pleased to hand opportunities to some younger players, as Joe Nolan, Lincoln McFayden, Lewis Earl and Joe Rodwell-Grant all made their youth team debuts.

“We don’t want to single anybody out because everyone contributed to the game and it was good that we got all the substitutes on.

“We are confident that our players are good enough and we will give them that opportunity to make that step up. If they take that, they can be successful.

“We asked in the changing rooms before the game that the younger lads go out and enjoy the game and show some enthusiasm and for the older boys to help them.

“Each and every player played their part today in a good performance and really good result.”
PNE line-up: Lenton; Fensome (McFayden, 69), Ngongo, Day, Campbell; Nolan, Pollard; Simmons (Earl, 81), Dolan, Walker (Rodwell-Grant, 81); Mason (Potts, 62). Subs not used: Cottam.

[themaclad]

Bodin makes Wales debut

[themaclad]

Walsall U18 2 PNE U18 0

Walsall scored in both halves to condemn a youthful Preston North End U18 side to a 2-0 defeat at Birmingham County FA HQ.

Dylan Parker opened the scoring after 16 minutes and Ethan Freemantle added a second for the hosts midway through the second-half, before the Lilywhites were reduced to ten men following Louis Potts’ late dismissal.

It would prove a challenging first-half for North End, who started with six first-year scholars and two U16s, but they were unfortunate early on as Jack Baxter twice sent Ethan Walker free down the left but the young attacker was called back for offside on both occasions.

Myles Mason was also frustrated by the linesman’s flag after Josh Pollard headed Jack Armer’s pass into space for the striker, who was heading into space in the area.

But after a couple of dangerous attacks, the hosts capitalised on their first clear-cut opportunity with just over a quarter of an hour played. Dan O’Sullivan threaded a fine pass into the box for Parker, who raced into the inside left position and slotted in at the near post with a first-time finish.

The Lilywhites almost equalised in the next minute when goalkeeper Brandon Ganley failed to deal with Armer’s free-kick into box, but Mason’s lobbed effort was hacked off the line.

Walsall continued to enjoy most of the possession but did not hit the target again for the remainder of the half, PNE ‘keeper Callum Lenton’s most difficult task a low save from Mitchell Candlin’s cross.

Jack Baxter had a thunderous effort for North End towards the end of the half as he dug himself out of a tight area and unleashed at goal from distance, but Ganley managed to hold on, while Parker and Stefan Mason dragged shots wide at the other end in time added on.

O’Sullivan provided the main threat for the hosts in the moments after the interval as he curled one free-kick over and another straight at Lenton, who also made a low save from another of the midfielder’s efforts, while Lewis Simmons hooked over from the edge of the box at the other end.

North End showed plenty of intent going forward in the second-half but were derailed by Walsall’s second goal after 67 minutes.

Ben Friel won the ball back in midfield and picked out Freemantle wide left, who cut inside and shot low into the left corner to score from just inside the box.

The visitors had more possession in the final stages of the game and might have pulled a goal back in the 81st minute when Ganley palmed Simmons’ right-wing cross straight to Pollard, whose strike on the bounce proved to be North End’s second effort of the game which was cleared off the line.

Second-half substitute Potts was shown a straight red card with three minutes of normal time remaining for a late challenge on a Walsall defender, the hosts seeing out the game for a 2-0 win.

Youth team manager Nick Harrison felt his team would have fared better had they adapted their style to counter playing on a difficult pitch against an experienced side at U18 level.

“It wasn’t a pretty game and the pitch wasn’t in a great condition to go and play football,” Harrison told PNE.com. “The pitch didn’t allow us to pass the ball, but the players put themselves under pressure by trying to over play.

“We didn’t cope for the first 15 minutes or so but I thought that was down to the slope of the pitch, they were playing downhill and we didn’t cope with that. The first goal comes from us trying to over play when we needed to get into their half and pass the ball a bit longer.

“We do want to get the ball down and play, but the players need to learn that, at the next level, there are games when you can’t play all the time and pass the ball short and sometimes you have to ask questions of the opposition in different ways.”
Harrison did not question the application of his players but said they needed to learn about dealing with the physical aspects of the game.

“It was disappointing in terms of the performance and the result but a good game for the players to learn from, especially the younger ones.

“For as much as we’re disappointed, I thought our players gave it a good go. We responded well after the first goal and had a couple of chances inside the box and I thought we were maybe unlucky not to get a penalty in the first-half.

“I don’t think we were too well beaten but when in the key moments, we tended to pass the ball short instead of long or just didn’t get our positioning in relation to the ball right when we lost it.

“I felt we played very much like an academy team and made those poor decisions whereas with Walsall, who had quite a few second-years in their starting line-up compared to our three, you could tell that they had played U18 football and knew how to play the game in the right way

“Their players were more physical, but our players have to cope with that and play against that if they want to train and play at first team level. They’ve got to do more in that sense, whether that’s in the gym or getting used to play against that type of player.”
PNE line-up: Lenton; Ngongo (Earl, 72), Day, Armer, Campbell; Pollard, Baxter; Simmons, Dolan (Nolan, 72), Walker (Jolly, 60); Mason (Potts, 60). Subs not used: Cottam.

[themaclad]

PNE U18 1 Morecambe U18 1
The youth team were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Morecambe on Saturday.

Precieux Ngongo put the Lilywhites ahead inside ten minutes but Tyler Brownsword equalised for the visitors with the midpoint of the first-half approaching.

It was a frantic start with North End having more of the ball but Morecambe showing more of a threat in the final third as Joe Nelligan twice broke down the right and crossed, Kyle Hawley first tamely heading straight at Callum Lenton before Henry Dorward nodded just wide.

The hosts took the lead with their first clear opportunity in the tenth minute. Ethan Walker fizzed in a corner from the left and his delivery took a touch on its way to the back post, where Ngongo controlled and poked it home.

PNE continued to dominate possession but their opponents looked dangerous in the air, particularly from set pieces, Hawley heading over unmarked providing a warning sign.

Indeed, just moments after that opportunity, the Shrimps drew level in the 21st minute. Hawley connected with another corner and although his effort was this time blocked, the loose ball fell kindly for Brownsword, who converted with a powerful first-time finish.

North End upped a gear in the final stages of the half with a number of clear chances falling their way. Josh Pollard forged one for himself just after the half hour when he intercepted a defender’s clearance in the box, but the Morecambe man managed to deflect his resulting shot wide.

Jack Baxter very nearly sent Tyrhys Dolan one-on-one against goalkeeper Ollie Jumeau with a cutting pass through the middle, but the visiting stopper just won the race to the ball.

Ethan Walker went one better moments later as he slipped Dolan into space in the box following a superb run inside from the right, but the latter shot just wide of the bottom left corner.

Adam O’Reilly also crossed for Pollard deep into stoppage time with a perfect right-wing delivery, but his header narrowly cleared the crossbar.

The Lilywhites started the second half as they began the first, Jerome Jolly first being denied by the leg of Jumeau in the box before the winger also shot straight at goal.

Morecambe might have taken the lead a couple of times before the hour but Lenton remained strong in goal, saving Leif Davis’ piledriver from outside the area and getting everything behind Kai Herbert’s effort from closer range, before Hawley shot high and wide of the right-hand post.

A quiet period of the game passed before the home side again finished the half strongly. Jolly was unfortunate not to score a winner six minutes from time when he leapt superbly to meet Jack Armer’s lofty left-wing cross, beating Jumeau in the aerial duel but glancing his header wide.

Walker showed great panache late on racing into the box, but perhaps overplayed it slightly with his two subsequent shots on goal both blocked as the two sides left with a point each.

Youth team manager Nick Harrison felt the Lilywhites were the better side overall, but wanted to see his team show that for more prolonged periods during the game.

“It was a bit of a scrappy game and it took us some time to get going,” he told PNE.com.

“When we got going and we passed the ball properly and the movement was good, I thought we looked very good, we opened up Morecambe well and created a few chances. What’s frustrating is that we didn’t do right from the start of the game.

“We were the more dominant side overall but we would expect that. Morecambe were a threat from set plays, we spoke to the players about that beforehand but we gave too many corners and free-kicks away and didn’t deal with the ball into the box which led to their goal. Apart from that, we looked comfortable at the back really.

“Where we let ourselves down was by not taking the golden chances that we had, with three one-on-ones and a free header, almost an open goal, that we should score from. Although it’s pleasing that we dominated parts of the game, we’re disappointed to have drawn and not won it.”
With three U16 players involved again, Harrison is optimistic that their inclusion – along with a number of first-year scholars – will put the team in a good position going into next season but first of all in the next game, a Lancashire FA Youth Cup semi-final against Oldham Athletic on Tuesday.

“That’s exactly why we do that, it goes to back what this is all about – their development. The latter parts of the season allow us to develop the younger players coming through and hope that they work with the existing players that we have so that they benefit going into the new season.

“I think that’s working well and the young lads coming up are performing well, and hopefully they can do that again on Tuesday, which is going to be a really tough game.”

“The players are going to have to recover because it’s going to be the same group that are involved on Tuesday. It will be tough on the legs but they’re young lads and I’m sure they will be raring to go.
“I think the players will be looking forward to a semi-final of the cup with the hope of getting through to the final.”

PNE line-up: Lenton; Simmons (Earl, 46), Ngongo, Armer, Campbell (Day, 46); O’Reilly, Baxter; Walker, Pollard (Nolan, 67), Jolly; Dolan. Subs not used: Cottam, Mason.

[themaclad]

Youth Team March Into Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup Final

The youth team completed a stunning comeback to beat Oldham Athletic 6-2 and reach the final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup.

Max Norman’s first-half double set up a mountain of a task for North End’s youngsters as they trailed 2-0, but they more than rose to the challenge as Tyrhys Dolan and Ethan Walker scored a brace apiece, while Adam O’Reilly and Jack Baxter also struck in an emphatic victory.

There looked to be nothing in the game early on before Oldham took a tenth minute lead. Norman profited from a defensive lapse of concentration, controlling in the box and neatly poking into the bottom right corner.

PNE responded well but initially looked frustrated, Jerome Jolly, Dolan and O’Reilly all lashing shots wide in quick succession, while Chinedu Uche forced James Cottam into a comfortable save from outside the box.

Kamol Campbell burst forward on the half hour and nudged it to Walker, whose low effort trickled just wide of the far corner.

The Lilywhites were dealt another blow after 34 minutes as Oldham were awarded a penalty, after Cottam brought down Declan Baldwin in the box, and Norman coolly converted into the bottom right corner.

However, the Lilywhites rallied and pulled one back in the 40th minute. O’Reilly’s fine pass picked out Dolan’s run into the area and his first-time effort beat goalkeeper Ewan McFarlane, kickstarting the fightback.

The hosts’ wait for an equaliser lasted only minutes but it might have come sooner, as Dolan chipped a ball over the defence for Walker, his shot on the bounce drawing a fine save from McFarlane.

In the 43rd minute, though, North End were level. Lewis Simmons regained possession in midfield to send Walker free down the right, failing to pick out a man with two crosses, but the second was palmed towards Dolan, who nodded home from close range.

The Lilywhites carried their momentum through to the second-half and took the lead in the 50th minute. Baxter was first to the ball deep in the visitors’ half, laying it off for Walker to set off on a mazy run which culminated with a superb finish into the top right corner from the edge of the area.

There was a noticeable response from the visitors and they nearly clawed it back just before the hour as Frankie Antoine, embarking on a similarly mesmerising run inside from the right, saw his shot deflected onto the crossbar.

North End picked up again soon enough, though, with O’Reilly increasing the lead in the 69th minute. Walker surged inside from the left and although he was this time halted, Jolly was in position to pass through for O’Reilly, who rounded McFarlane to score.

Lewis McKinney went through on goal for the visitors less than ten minutes later, but his shot was deflected into the side netting.

PNE countered from the resulting corner and were awarded a 77th minute penalty, Baxter showing great composure to slot into the bottom right corner.

Dolan was then hindered by an unfortunate bobble before Walker completed the scoring four minutes from time.

Dolan lifted a ball over the defence for Walker to chase, dallying on the ball before unleashing a super strike into the same top right corner, rounding off a brilliant afternoon’s work.

Youth team manager Nick Harrison was enthused by his side’s display.

“It was a really exciting game, both teams went at it right from the start,” he told PNE.com. “It took us a bit of time to get going but from the back end of the first-half onwards, I thought we were outstanding.

“The resilience and character that the players showed to get back into the game was brilliant. We challenged them to go and get the next goal at half-time because we felt that would be important and once we did that, the quality shone through and the players finished the game really well.

“Certainly, the mentality of the players to keep going and keep believing to play the game, pass the ball and have that movement, showed great character from the lads. We’ve seen that throughout the season but without always getting that kind of the result.

“I’m delighted that it’s happened for the players today because they can take confidence and belief from that for the last two games of the season. It will give them that extra belief in what we’re asking them to do and that what they’re doing is working.”
Harrison praised U16 players Tyrhys Dolan and Ethan Walker, who scored two goals apiece in the game to help North End to victory.

“They’re young players –schoolboys. Ethan sat his first GCSE exam this morning and then came to the game and Tyrhys also went to school this morning.

“They’re young lads and they’ve shown what they’re capable of and although they have missed chances in other games, the pleasing thing is they’ve always kept going and got into good positions.

“We really believe in all of the players. They’ve shown what they can do today, but they could’ve done that all season to the majority of the teams we’ve played against, and that’s maybe a challenge for the players for next year, but they should be looking forward to the final two games already.”
Harrison also provided some early thoughts on facing Wigan in the final.

“Wigan have been outstanding this season – they know how to win games, they’re very competitive and are challenging to win the league.

“It’s going to be a tough game but we have beaten them during the season so hopefully we can do that again.

“If the players can perform like they have today and show that clinical touch in the box, I think we can beat any team.”

PNE line-up: Cottam; Day, Fensome, Armer (Earl, 57), Campbell; O’Reilly, Baxter; Simmons, Dolan, Jolly; Walker. Subs not used: Lenton, Ngongo, Pollard, Rodwell-Grant.

[themaclad]

The youth team ended their North West Youth Alliance campaign in style with a 5-2 turnaround victory away to Shrewsbury Town.

Lifumpa Mwandwe scored in the 20th minute to give the hosts a half-time lead, and he would go onto score another after the break, but Ethan Walker scored a brace while Lewis Simmons, Jack Baxter and Josh Pollard all also found the net in a much-improved second-half display.

The hosts had more possession in the opening 45 minutes and could have capitalised on that three minutes in when Luke Ward’s shot was deflected wide from a corner.

Ryan Barnett’s was the creative force in the home side’s ranks, playing a fine low cross to the right-hand side of the area but Aaron Gilpin couldn’t finish.

Shrewsbury took the lead in the 20th minute when Barnett regained possession in midfield and played Mwandwe into the inside left area of the box, and he finished low into the left corner.

Jack Baxter tested goalkeeper Cameron Gregory in the 27th minute with a dipping effort from range, the Shrewsbury stopper claiming it at the second attempt.

PNE ‘keeper Callum Lenton also made his first meaningful save shortly after with a fine dive to his right to deny Gilpin.

Cameron Day fended off Tyrone Ofori well while Walker had a penalty appeal waived away in the half’s closing moments, before North End came out much stronger after the break.

The equaliser came almost immediately after the interval, in the 48th minute. Kamol Campbell raced inside after receiving a throw in advanced down the left and laid it off for Walker, who jinked past a man before slotting into the bottom right corner.

Walker’s pass to Pollard in space was intercepted, while Adam O’Reilly and Walker saw shots trickle into the ‘keeper’s grasp and wide respectively, before a frantic end to the game ensued.

Simmons kickstarted that, putting the Lilywhites ahead in the 70th minute. It was admirable persistence from the right sided player, who closed down Gregory’s clearance with a block which ended up in the back of the net.

Five minutes later, it was 3-1. Walker was brought down just outside the box, earning a free-kick for Baxter to take, and his low curling effort went in off the inside of the right-hand post.

The Lilywhites almost scored again in the next attack with Day heading wide from a corner, but it was Shrewsbury who struck next after 78 minutes. Mwandwe cut inside from the left and curled a super finish into the top right corner.

The pendulum then swung North End’s way again in the 81st minute to restore the two-goal margin. Joe Nolan timed a challenge to perfection near the centre circle and chipped a ball over the top for Walker, who sent a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.

Pollard completed the scoring in the 84th minute with another fantastic goal. He picked the ball up deep on the left, drifted past a couple of Shrewsbury players and into the area, where he brilliantly curled into the top left corner.

Shrewsbury might have reduced the deficit late on when Mwandwe took down Rhys Davies’ cross and aimed for the bottom left corner, but was denied a hattrick by the post.

But it was a deserved victory for the young Lilywhites, as Professional Development Phase coach, Andy Fensome, hailed the players’ second-half response having gone behind.

“It was very good by the players to come back from a mistake in giving the ball away to concede,” he told PNE.com. “They showed great character in the second-half to get a foothold in the game and take their chances.

“The lads knew at half-time that we hadn’t played well and although Shrewsbury had had a lot of possession, they didn’t really threaten us.

“I think we created some half chances in the first-half but the final ball wasn’t good enough. After the break, we seemed to find that final pass and it started almost straight away in the second-half.

“We just asked the players to tidy up their passing, make better decisions on the ball and play a little bit quicker. I think they did that well, which showed in some of the goals the players scored, and there was some good quality play.”
Fensome has been pleased by the team’s end to the season, with eleven goals being scored in their last two matches, but felt that that goalscoring prowess could have been shown more often throughout the campaign.

“I think it’s nice to finish any league season with the win. The cup game in midweek [against Oldham Athletic] was a confidence booster because it was our first win for a while. Finishing the league programme with a win should only stand the players in good stead.

“We’ve scored eleven in two games and some of those have been outstanding goals, whether they’ve been individual goals or team goals.

“That’s the quality we’ve had all season, it’s just unfortunate that we’ve failed to show that at times because we’ve created lots and lots of chances, but we haven’t always been able to take those.

“Any goal that’s scored is a good one, it doesn’t matter whether it’s from one or 25 yards out. In the last two games, we’ve taken a lot of the chances that we’ve created and taken them really well.”
PNE line-up: Lenton; Ngongo, (Earl, 79), Fensome, Day, Campbell; O’Reilly, Baxter (Nolan, 79); Simmons, Dolan (Pollard, 62), Jolly, (Armer, 74); Walker. Subs not used: Cottam.

[themaclad]

Youth Team Beaten In Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup Final
The youth team were on the receiving end of a harsh 4-1 scoreline as they lost the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup final to Wigan Athletic.

North End were unable to make a breakthrough during their stronger periods and although Lewis Fensome cancelled out Brad Roberts’ opener, Divin Baninigme put Wigan back in front almost immediately to lead at half-time, before Joe Gelhardt and Victor Maffeo scored late on to seal it.

Baninigme could have put his side ahead within three minutes, but dragged wide from close range after James Cottam had parried a cross back into the centre, with Connor Simpson seeing his low effort blocked shortly after at the other end.

Wigan took the lead in the 12th minute, albeit thanks to some good fortune. Mitchell Culshaw chased down the ball to the right byline, delivered back into the box and after a couple of ricochets, the ball fell into Roberts’ path, who rifled into the right corner with the help of a deflection.

Lewis Simons struck wide via a deflection in the next attack but it was a tense affair overall. The nearest either side came to scoring in the intermitting moments saw Charlie Jolley break into the Lilywhites’ box, but Cameron Day defended superbly to regain possession.

North End’s youngsters grew in confidence and went close when Simpson took on Dolan’s pass and forced ‘keeper Jordan Perrin into a top save to tip wide his low left-footed strike.

The Lilywhites profited from the resulting corner, levelling matters in the 33rd minute. Ethan Walker’s delivery found Simpson, whose volley took a touch off Fensome for a deserved equaliser.

PNE might have scored a second before the break, but two decent openings fell either side of Latics’41st minute effort to send them back in front.

Tyrhys Dolan glided into the box and was halted as he cut back onto his left foot, with Wigan netting just a minute later. Mwiya Malumo slid a ball into the box for Baninigme, who fired into the bottom left corner from just inside the box.

Jerome Jolly did superbly in the final minute of the half to hold off his man and lay it off for Dolan on the edge of the box, his first-time effort drawing another excellent saw from the feet of Perrin.

Opportunities came for both sides in the moments following the break, as Simpson’s swept effort from the left side of the box was blocked, Jolly drew another long distance save from Perrin, before Cottam produced some goalkeeping heroics at the other end to save Culshaw’s shot with his legs.

For much of the remainder of the second-half, the Lilywhites dominated the play but couldn’t breach Wigan’s resolute backline. Half chances fell for Jolly and Simpson, whose header wide was sandwiched between the former’s two glancing headers over the bar.

Jolly then had another long-range shot pushed wide by Perrin before Wigan took advantage of the Lilywhites’ search for a second equaliser in the closing minutes.

Latics took a quick free-kick in the 83rd minute, with substitutes Maffeo and Gelhardt combining as the latter received a through ball in the box and drilled into the far right corner.

Fensome might have doubled his tally two minutes from time, but he volleyed into the side netting from Jack Baxter’s free-kick.

There was still time for Wigan to extend their lead, Maffeo netting in the 93rd minute. He passed for Malumo and although his shot was blocked, the former finished from the rebound to complete the scoring.

Youth team manager Nick Harrison agreed that the scoreline was harsh on his players, but said they must learn from the experience of defeat.

“The scoreline is really disappointing but at the end of the day, it’s a cup game and it’s all about winning,” he told PNE.com.

“I thought today, again, we performed well, we dominated at times and won a lot of second balls, which we’ve been working hard on with the players. We probably weren’t clinical enough and their goalkeeper pulled off two or three excellent saves.

“But we made it far too easy for them to score their goals, which was the difference between us winning and losing the game today.

“The players can take credit for their work rate, they worked hard and put a shift in and tried to play the right way. But they have to play in the right way and win games because ultimately, that’s what they have to do at the next level.”
Harrison was disappointed with the lead-up to Wigan’s third goal, resulting corner from a quickly taken free-kick, which looked to be taken further forward than position of the alleged foul.

“At 2-1, we looked dominant and I thought we would get the equaliser and maybe if the referee doesn’t make that decision for the third goal, maybe we do get ourselves back [into the game].

“But we’ve got to look at how we got to the point where we were losing 2-1, which is purely down to poor defending and us not being clinical enough.

“We’ve challenged the players at the end of the game – especially the younger ones coming through next year – that they can’t do that, it can’t happen if they want to progress.
“They have to learn from this loss. It’s a great experience for them and they should go away with how horrible the feeling is of watching Wigan jumping up and down celebrating at the presentation at the end.

“That’s something they should never want to experience in football again and hopefully they can take that into next season and beyond.”

PNE line-up: Cottam; Ngongo, Fensome, Day, Campbell (Armer, 64); Simmons, Baxter; Walker, (Pollard, 52); Dolan, Jolly; Simpson. Subs not used: Earl, Lenton, Nolan.

Wigan Athletic line-up: Perrin, Golden, Plant, Hilton, Roberts, Downey, McGuffie (Gelhardt, 46), Culshaw, Malumo, Jolley (Weir, 46), Baninigme (Maffeo, 53). Subs not used: Berry, Smith.

[themaclad]

Robinson, Maguire, Cunningham, Horgan and Browne all called up by the Republic of Ireland

[themaclad]

Republic of Ireland Under 17 keeper Jimmy Corcoran who has signed for North End was sent off for picking up a second booking during a penalty shoot out for apparently moving before the ball was kicked.

https://twitter.com/RTEsoccer/status/996...22049?s=19