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Andy Taylor’s first game in charge of Wanderers’ B Team was rather eventful due to the wild weather conditions.
The Central League fixture against Preston North End was initially called off after half an hour due to the deteriorating surface. The scores level at that stage, with Gez Sithole’s opener cancelled out by Izac Khan.
It was then decided that play would resume on the artificial pitch at Lostock and the visitors secured the three points, with Cole McGhee getting the winner.
The young Whites started brightly, with Ben Andreucci forcing Tommy Davies into a smart stop after latching onto Sithole’s pass.
The opener came after eight minutes when Sithole headed home from close range after Finlay Lockett’s initial corner had hit the bar in the swirling wind.
But Preston hit back through Khan’s first-time finish after some good work by Ethan Eccleston on the right flank.
Max Wilson then glanced a header wide before Jack Flint made a vital punch with a North End attacker ready to head home at the far post.
The players were taken off the pitch following lengthy discussions between the officials and both managers.
When play eventually continued on the artificial pitch, Preston adapted quickly and took the lead through McGhee’s clinical header after getting on the end of Jonny Brindle’s corner.
After the break, Andreucci had the ball in the net after winning back possession high up the pitch, but the offside flag had already gone up.
The former Leeds youngster was then denied by another good stop by Davies. His pace continued to cause the Preston backline problems.
Matt Tweedley, wearing the captain’s armband, started to demonstrate his impressive passing range which had previously been hampered by the pitch.
Trevon Bryan and Gio Loureiro were both introduced as Wanderers searched for the equaliser that their second-half display probably warranted.
But despite their pressure, the young Whites could not break down a stubborn Preston defence and came away from the contest empty-handed.
Flint, Frimpong (Bryan), Halford, Yoro, Inwood, Trialist, Tweedley, Sharples, Lockett, Sithole (Loureiro), Andreucci. Unused: Toure, Abimbola, Leigh.
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