Cup defeat for youngsters
PNE FC U18s 2
MORECAMBE 0
MORECAMBE’S Under 18s were knocked out of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup by Preston.
The young Shrimps started brightly and on the front foot with the pressure forcing Preston's youngsters into errors. Morecambe shaded proceedings for the first 35 minutes with a number of opportunities created.
Unfortunately two Preston goals in the last nine minutes of the half proved vital as the home side took advantage of two poor clearances to conjure up two decisive strikes and end the half in the ascendancy.
The second half saw Morecambe on the back foot and struggling to string a handful of passes together but fortunately Preston failed to convert a number of chances.
Morecambe’s Will Kitchen was certainly the busier of the two keepers and other than breaks Morecambe rarely threatened the Preston goal.
Coach Phil Hackney said: “Overall this was a disappointing performance with a number of players failing to deliver and in many ways we got off lightly.
“But with a number of players away on British Colleges trials the enforced changes had a dramatic effect and the team appeared disjointed.’’
MORECAMBE: Kitchen, McGowan, Dowling, Reynolds, Hilton, Newton (rep Roberts), Colebourn (rep Muscart), Dunleavy, Naylor, Green, Woods (rep Preston).
Subs not used: Towers, Bailey.
* THE Under 18s have rescheduled their programme and are playing Wigan at Robin Park on Saturday at 12 noon.
They were due to have a blank weekend but have agreed to bring the fixture forward.