Fleetwood Town’s Development Squad came out on top in their Central League fixture after their 2-1 win over the previously unbeaten Preston North End at Springfields on Tuesday afternoon.

With a number of first-team players either coming back from injury, or serving a suspension, they were all able to get some much-needed minutes in the clash, which was originally supposed to be played at Poolfoot Farm, but was then moved to Preston.

The scoring was opened by Cian Hayes at the quarter-hour mark, with the only other action in the first half being a yellow card for Kaedyn Kamara three minutes after Town’s goal.

The young Cods doubled their lead straight after the restart for the second half as Max McMillan managed to find the bottom corner, beating James Pradic in the Preston goal from the edge of the area, but the hosts brought it back to a one-goal game late on.

With 20 minutes to go, the Lilywhites made the score 2-1 as Kitt Nelson’s effort, which was well-saved by Trialist A, was parried into the path of Aaron Bennett who struck the ball into the top corner of the Fleetwood goal.

Matt Lawlor’s side spotted the danger of a comeback and kept hold of the lead by staying stern at the back and took all three points from the fixture back down the road to Thornton-Cleveleys, with their focus now on the Blackpool fixture later this month.

Preston XI: Pradic (GK), Nevin, Pasiek (Eccleston), Kamara, Taylor, Coulton, Seary, Amaral (Wallbank), Nelson, Mawene, Bennett.

Town XI: Trialist A (GK), Johnston, Trialist B, Thompson, D.Johnson, Ndaba, Hayes, Quitirna, McMillan, Dolan, Trialist C.