Nathan Rooney's side were beaten on Saturday morning
Fleetwood Town youth team’s first game of 2016 ended in a 3-1 defeat against Preston North End on Saturday morning.The home side took an early lead before Mamadou Djabi equalised midway through the first half.
Striker Tom Barry restored Preston’s advantage with his second on half time, and then completed his hat-trick after 55 minutes.
Preston started the better side, and went in front courtesy of a Barry header as he found the net from Dylan Davidson’s cross.
Fleetwood responded well to going behind, with winger Daniel Mooney looking threatening on the counter attack.
And the young Cod Army made that pressure count soon after as right back Wes Nelson played in Djabi who finished well beyond goalkeeper Callum Roberts.
Then on the stroke of half time, Nelson dived in for a tackle inside the box, and despite the player staying on his feet the referee awarded North End a spot kick.
Davidson’s initial penalty was brilliantly saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Max Johnstone, but he couldn’t keep Barry out on the rebound.
Into the second half, and it was Fleetwood who were looking the more likely to score as Louis Myers couldn’t divert a header on goal.
Preston added a third when pinball ensued in the area, and the ball fell kindly for the predatory Barry to score his third.
That was a blow to Fleetwood’s cause, but they showed good character to come back into the match, with Mooney forcing the keeping into a good save from a tight angle.
Town then had a shout for a penalty of their own as Tyrrell McKenzie played Mooney in, who rounded the keeper and looked to have been upended but the referee waved away appeals
The visitors could not break through in the last 15 minutes to set up a grandstand finish, with Djabi again denied by excellent last ditch defending.