Early kick off for youth team at Preston

Last updated : 17 October 2014 By Tony Scholes
Evan Galvin opened the scoring in last season's 4-0 win

We go into the game in 8th place in the table whilst Preston occupy 5th place with three points more than us with both of us having played nine games.

They've been beaten just once this season and that was a surprise defeat against Accrington on the opening day of the season, a game played at Padiham's Arbories Memorial Ground.

In recent years this has often been a top of the table clash. They've generally been tight games but last season we beat them twice including a big home win last November.

We won that one 4-0 with our goals coming from Evan Galvin, Nathan Lowe, Waqas Azam and Brad Jackson. The first two of them are now in the development squad but we can expect but Waqas, this season's youth team captain, and Jackson to feature tomorrow.

The double was completed in March when Ntumba Massanka scored the only goal at Preston to give us a 1-0 win. We ended last season in 9th place with Preston even lower in 11th place, positions neither have been used to for some time.

Massanka is again the leading goalscorer this season but he, and youth team colleague, Christian Hill have both been involved in the development squad game this afternoon so might sit this one out.

Finally, my best wishes to coach Terry Pashley. Pash has been away from the club recently due to illness and I hope he's soon back to full health and back working alongside Andy Farrell with the youth squad.