[themaclad]

Jonathan Gould new goalkeeping coach

[themaclad]

PNE U18 3 Morecambe U18 2

Jacob Holland-Wilkinson scored an 89th-minute winner to maintain the youth team's 100 per cent start to the new North West Youth Alliance season in a 3-2 triumph over Morecambe.

Ethan Walker scored twice to overturn Morecambe's opening goal, but the visitors levelled matters again before the break in a pulsating first half.

However, in a second half without quite the same goalmouth action, Holland-Wilkinson's late decider gave the visitors no time to respond as the Lilywhites made it six points from six in league matches this term.

Morecambe broke the deadlock early on by scoring from a corner before Walker equalised on 21 minutes.

The recently turned 17-year-old ghosted in at the back post to meet a right-wing cross from Tyrhys Dolan, who himself had shown great trickery and patience down the flank before providing the all-important delivery.

In the 42nd minute, Walker completed the reversal of the scoreline with a fine individual effort, picking up the ball deep in the opposition half and driving to the edge of the area, where he drilled a left-footed strike beyond the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner.

That goal looked as though it would send North End in ahead at the interval, but Morecambe pulled a goal back from the penalty spot before the half-time whistle blew.

It looked for much of the second half as though it would remain 2-2, but Holland-Wilkinson popped up late on to ensure the Lilywhites ended the game on a more positive note.

Unsurprisingly, Walker had a major hand in the decisive goal, curling a free-kick in from the right and Holland-Wilkinson met his delivery at the back post to head home his first league goal of the campaign to add to the four he managed during pre-season.

That was enough for Nick Harrison's team to record a second consecutive win, with their next challenge now a trip to league newcomers Salford City next weekend.

View a gallery of images from the game above courtesy of photographer Pete Burns.

PNE line-up: Corcoran; Dooley, Earl, Williams, Coulton (McManus, 69); Nolan, Bennett (Rahman, 84); Potts (Rodwell-Grant, 46), Dolan, Walker; Holland-Wilkinson. Subs not used: Nicholson, Lombard.

[themaclad]

Salford City U18 3 PNE U18 2
The youth team’s winning start to the campaign was halted by Salford City on Saturday morning, the young Lilywhites losing out 3-2 at Partington Sports Village.

Tyrhys Dolan netted for the first time this term to cancel out the hosts' opener and see North End go in level at the break, but Jacob Holland-Wilkinson’s second for the visitors on the hour – after Salford had netted two early second half goals of their own – was not enough to mount a comeback for Nick Harrison’s team.

The Academy manager made four changes from the team which beat Morecambe last time out; Kyi Nicholson, Levi Lewis and Joe Rodwell-Grant handed their first starts of the campaign while Brian McManus returned to the starting fold.

That made for a particularly youthful back four with the inclusion of U16 Lewis at left back and first years Nicholson and Lewis Coulton accompanying second year Lewis Earl in the backline.

The hosts took the lead after 12 minutes with a goal from a corner before Ethan Walker – who came off the bench for North End in the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Bradford City – earned a penalty for PNE nine minutes later.

Walker stepped up and although his effort rebounded off the left-hand post, Dolan showed great reactions to slot in the rebound first time from just inside the area.

However, two Salford goals within the opening six second half minutes set up a difficult task for the visiting Lilywhites who, like the first team away at Swansea City on the same day, were wearing the new yellow away kit for the first time.

Jacob Holland-Wilkinson produced a timely response by hammering a left-footed strike into the far left corner on the hour mark – Dolan again directly involved in the goal, providing the assist with a fine pass to find the striker on the right-hand side of the box.

However, North End were unable to find an equaliser in the final half an hour, meaning a first defeat of the campaign in both friendly and league matches was in order – ending a ten-match unbeaten run for the U18 side which began on the last day of last season.

PNE line-up: Corcoran; Nicholson, Earl, Coulton, Lewis (Huddart, 59); Nolan, McManus (Bennett, 59); Holland-Wilkinson, Dolan, Walker; Rodwell-Grant (Potts, 59). Subs not used: Lombard, Rahman.

[themaclad]

Bradford City U18 0 PNE U18 3

Louis Potts, Lewis Earl and Tyrhys Dolan scored to see the youth team begin their Youth Alliance Cup campaign with a 3-0 away win against Bradford City.

The win seals three points for the Lilywhites in their first match in Group 5 of the competition, where each side faces one another once, with Nick Harrison’s team also set to take on Bury and Rochdale at home and Notts County away before the turn of the year.
It was Potts’ header that got PNE off the mark in the competition for the season, with Earl also nodding home after the break and Dolan capitalising on a defensive lapse late on.

Academy manager Harrison made three changes from the team which lost to Salford City the previous weekend, with the incoming Harry Huddart, Aaron Bennett and Potts all providing an impact.

It was Huddart’s sliding challenge at the back to regain possession that saw the Lilywhites venture forward to score the first, with Kyi Nicholson’s cross from the right byline palmed by the Bradford goalkeeper into Potts’ path, who gratefully headed in almost on the goal line.

Another headed goal saw the visitors double their lead in the second half, with Ethan Walker’s left-wing free-kick picking out Earl at the far post to plant an effort back across goal and into the left-hand corner of the net.

Substitute Lewis Leigh then pressed high to win the ball back for Dolan, who found himself in acres of space in the opposition area after his team-mate’s intervention, allowing him to pick out the bottom left corner with an emphatic finish.

That completed the scoring as a North End side recorded another fine away win over the Bantams within the same month, following the first team’s success over the same opponents in the Carabao Cup first round.

Next up for the young Lilywhites is the short trip to face rivals Blackpool away from home back in league action. Details for the game will be confirmed later this week on @pnefcacademy on Twitter.

PNE line-up: Corcoran; Nicholson, Huddart, Earl, Coulton; Nolan, Bennett (Leigh, 80); Holland-Wilkinson (Lewis, 85), Dolan, Walker (Rahman, 65); Potts (Rodwell-Grant, 60). Subs not used: Lombard.

[themaclad]

Blackpool U18 0 PNE U18 3

Preston North End beat rivals Blackpool 3-0 in the mini-derby thanks to a fantastic performance from the youth team at Myerscough College.

Louis Potts and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson’s efforts at either end of the first half marked a fine start for the young Lilywhites, who extended their advantage after the break with Ethan Walker scoring his fifth goal of the season.

There was just one change to the team which beat Bradford City by the same scoreline in the Youth Alliance Cup last time out, Tyler Williams coming into the side and taking the captain’s armband – becoming the fourth man to skipper the side already this term.

And North End made a blistering start to take the lead inside ten minutes. Walker’s super switch of play out to right gave Aaron Bennet space to cross and Potts got across to the near post to convert beyond the goalkeeper.

Just before half-time, Bennett was involved again, playing an eye-of-the-needle through ball to find Ethan Walker bearing down on goal. He duly rounded the goalkeeper and rolled it across the face for Holland-Wilkinson to double the lead from minimal distance.

Walker put the icing on the cake with a quarter of an hour to go by plucking the ball out of the air and finishing superbly from outside the box to ensure a three-goal winning margin.

Nick Harrison spoke to PNE.Com after the game, explaining how he has been pleased with the back-to-back away victories to nil – firstly against Bradford last week and now with the triumph over Blackpool.

“It was a really good result and more importantly a really good team performance,” said the Academy manager. “There were a number of individuals that played really well so we’re pleased with that.

“That’s six goals in two games and two clean sheets as well. We’re pleased to get those two results, but I think more importantly, the performance is the reason why we score those goals and keep the clean sheets.

“The work ethic and the attitude of the players in both games has been brilliant and that’s something we want to continue. We feel that when the players work at their hardest and when their attitude and mentality is right, then they’re going to put in good performances.”

With Ethan Walker taking his tally to five and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson to four for the season, while the other scorer on the day Louis Potts also finding the net for a second consecutive game, Harrison has been encouraged by the multiple goalscorers in the side.

He also agreed that the players – not only those on the scoresheet – could take renewed confidence from their derby day success.

“We’ve got a number of individuals who can create goals and also score goals; that’s the type of players that we’ve got and we’ve recruited, and we have those throughout the Academy,” he added.

“We also want to make sure that they’ve got the right degrees in terms of what they do when the team haven’t got the ball and that revolves a lot around work rate and their attitude to get the ball back. We’re seeing a lot of that in the games at the moment.

“I certainly think that the confidence of the players is high at the moment and that will continue to be the case if they carry on working hard in training and continue to work hard in the games programme.”

PNE line-up: Corcoran; Huddart, Williams, Earl, Coulton (Nicholson, 87); Nolan, Bennett (Dooley, 70); Holland-Wilkinson (Rahman, 74), Dolan, Walker (Rodwell-Grant); Potts. Subs not used: Lombard.

[themaclad]

Baluga Browne bags for the Republic

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Johnson player of the month

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Lancs Senior Cup HT
Chorley 1 PNE 3 Ginnelly 3

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Win 4-1 Harrop got the other

[themaclad]

Chorley 1 Preston North End 4

An impressive first half hat-trick from Josh Ginnelly sent North End on their way to the second round of the Lancashire FA Interfit Senior Cup against Jamie Vermiglio’s Chorley at Victory Park.

It took just three minutes to open the scoring, the No.17 running clean through onto Josh Harrop’s lofted through ball, before firing past Danny Eccles. It was two on 20 minutes as the winger converted again from Harrop’s left-wing cross, before adding his third ten minutes before the break, running from ten yards inside his own half, racing clear and round the Magpies keeper and converting.

The yellow-clad visitors didn’t have it all their own way though, with Taylor Brickell having reduced the arrears at 2-0 with a driven shot from the right corner of the box.

The second half saw PNE add to their tally with Harrop curling into the bottom right-hand corner on 67 minutes as the game finished 4-1.

The hosts had two former North Enders in their ranks, with Tom Stead on the bench and John Welsh in the starting XI and the midfielder almost gave the game a blistering start, firing a dipping volley from 35 yards that beat Connor Ripley but ended up on the roof of the net after only a dozen seconds.

However, the Lilywhites were ahead early as Harrop picked up the ball on half-way and lofted a ball in behind the Chorley backline for Ginnelly to race onto, before drawing the goalkeeper and sliding the ball under him into the bottom left hand corner from 12 yards.

It should have been two five minutes later as Andre Green raced down the left and pulled the ball across for Ginnelly eight yards out, but his shot was up and over the bar.

There was a concerning moment on 13 minutes as a back pass sold Ripley short and substitute Ryan Moore rounded the keeper, but hit the post and Jordan Storey did brilliantly to get back and clear off the line allowing Ripley to claim.
The second came on 20 minutes as this time Harrop pulled the ball across from the left and Ginnelly collected on edge of the ‘D’ and side-stepped right before switching his shot back across the goal and again into to left corner off the goal post and in the net.
Vermiglio’s side pulled one back within 60 seconds as Brickell collected the ball in the right-hand corner of the penalty area fired hard and low into bottom left hand corner of goal.

The yellows continued to play on the front foot though and Ryan Ledson had a left-footed effort from 25 yards, that Eccles palmed behind for a corner.

The third came ten minutes before the break as Green played a long ball over the top and Ginnelly ran from 10 yards inside his own half straight through, rounded Eccles and slid the ball into the empty net.

David Nugent made his return from injury at half-time, replacing Jayden Stockley in attack, whilst first year scholar Lewis Coulton also got a run out, replacing the returning Andrew Hughes after an hour, two planned changes for North End on the players’ return from respective calf and hamstring issues.

Nugent had a chance to mark his return with a goal on 65 minutes, as the No.35 collected a back pass and drove into the right side of the box, drilling a low shot that beat Eccles, but also flashed inches past the left-hand post.
The fourth goal was added by the quick feet of Harrop mid-way through the second half. Ledson had driven into the box and gone down under pressure, but the ball fell for Harrop, who shifted the ball out of his feet past a defender and curled a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner from 15 yards.
Eccles prevented Ginnelly adding his fourth and PNE’s fifth on 74 minutes with a fine stop from a rocket of a shot, after Coulton’s driven cross from the left fell to the No.17 to the right of goal 12 yards out.

Ripley had little to do in the second half in goal for North End, but when he was called upon with 12 minutes left, he made a fine low save, diving at full-stretch to his right to keep out a low effort from Magpies skipper Courtney Meppen-Walters.

A fifth was denied with eight minutes left after one of the best passing moved of the night, Green eventually crossing from the left for Nugent at the back post, the striker forcing Eccles into a superb point-blank save, with Harrop poking home, only to be flagged offside.

Another fine stop by the Chorley goalkeeper came with four minutes to go, as he prevented Jordan Storey adding a fifth from ten yards out, after Harrop’s corner from the right-hand side, which had been won by another strong run from Ginnelly, but it remained four as the Lilywhites progressed.

Chorley line-up: Eccles, Ross, Blakeman (Moore, 5 (Baldwin, 73)), Welsh (Stepans, 63), Baines, Meppen-Walters, Brickell, Flannagan, Slew, Dodds, Newby. Subs not used: Stead, Barrow.

PNE line-up: Ripley, O’Reilly, Hughes (Coulton, 61), Ledson (Baxter, 73), Storey, Huntington ©, Green, Bayliss, Stockley (Nugent, 46), Harrop, Ginnelly. Subs not used: Crowe, Walker.

Attendance: 457

Referee: Mr D Watson

PNE U18 0 Fleetwood Town U18 0 (Fleetwood Win 4-3 On Penalties)

Jimmy Corcoran’s two shootout saves proved in vain as the youth team lost 4-3 on penalties against Fleetwood Town in the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup First Round, following a goalless 90 minutes.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action in normal time, Fleetwood having the better chances in the first half, with North End growing in confidence after the break and having opportunities to win it as well.

But neither goalkeeper could be beaten and while the two custodians both pulled off further saves in the resulting shootout, it was the Fleetwood spot kick takers who showed greater accuracy from 12 yards to seal a quarter-final place in the competition.


There were as many as five changes for PNE from the resounding win against Accrington Stanley last time out, with Corcoran himself back on goalkeeping duties, replacing Ollie Lombard after going away with Republic of Ireland U18 for a tournament in Sweden.

Lincoln McFayden was also back in the fold as he took the captain’s armband, replacing Lewis Coulton, while Ben Dooley, Jacob Holland-Wilkinson and Joe Rodwell-Grant came into the XI for Aaron Bennett, Hafizul Rahman and Louis Potts.

It was the Cod Army who hit the ground running, although they spurned their chances for the most part.

They had two decent headed opportunities from corners that both culminated in efforts inching wide, and it was the same result after a neat exchange on the edge of the box took the striker into a great shooting position close to goal, where he struck wide.

Corcoran did make one excellent stop though, dashing off his line to block a shot from 15 yards, narrowing the angle superbly in the process.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites had long range efforts through Joes Nolan and Rodwell-Grant – skied high and blocked respectively – and although Ethan Walker did go one better by hitting the target after turning into the area, his shot was no trouble for the goalkeeper.

The Lilywhites came into the game more after half-time, although there was a scare when Fleetwood headed home from a free-kick with almost an hour played, the goal ultimately ruled out by the offside flag.

North End's best chance fell to Lewis Earl, who met Walker’s ball in from a deep free-kick with a strong header that was expertly kept out by the visiting ‘keeper.

Earl had another chance when he connected with a Walker cross once again, this time from a corner, but this time he couldn’t keep his header down.

Tyrhys Dolan also tried his luck from range but his low strike could only draw a routine stop from the opposition No.1.

Penalties were needed to separate the teams and while Nolan, Dolan and Walker dispatched their spot kicks for PNE, an additional three misses from men in white – one saved and two more struck wide – meant it was the visitors who won the day.

The sides will meet again next weekend at Poolfoot Farm in the North West Youth Alliance league, with the young Lilywhites facing a two-week absence from competitive action thereafter.

PNE line-up: Corcoran; Huddart, Earl, Williams, McFayden (Lewis, 19); Nolan, Dooley; Holland-Wilkinson (Bennett, 80), Dolan, Walker; Rodwell-Grant. Subs not used: Nicholson, Lombard, Potts.

[themaclad]

Barrow next at home in the Senior Cup