REPORT: Preston U19s 4 Wanderers U19s 1

The Youth team saw their superb run in the Youth Alliance Cup end at the last-four stage as Preston North End advanced to the national final.

The young Whites had won three group games and two knock-out ties to reach the northern final.

And Dave Gardiner’s side then led 1-0 at North End’s Springfield Training Ground before a second-half fightback took Preston through to face Luton Town in the decider.

Wanderers went in front through an excellent strike from Mitch Henry (pictured), who weaved his way into a shooting position before finding the bottom corner.

And keeper Ellis Litherland preserved the advantage at the break thanks to a fine penalty save.

However, North West Youth Alliance League leaders North End had gone into the game on the back of a seven-match winning run.

And they extended that to end Wanderers’ hopes of progressing with four second-half strikes from Aaron Bennett, two, Vaughn Green and Finley Cross-Adair.

Bolton: Litherland, Frimpong, Burgess, Toure (Kamara), Halford, Tweedley, Jones (Shakespear), Pettifer, Conway, Olawumi, Henry. Substitutes: Ahmed, Dallimore, Graham.

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