Chris Lucketti made a 60 minute comeback as the Lilywhites came from behind twice to defeat Barnsley at Deepdale thanks to Simon Lynch, Michael Brown and Mark Jackson.
Reserves result: Preston 3 Barnsley 2
Chris Lucketti made a 60 minute comeback as the Lilywhites came from behind twice to defeat Barnsley at Deepdale thanks to Simon Lynch, Michael Brown and Mark Jackson.
The game started in brisk fashion, Ashley Scothern blasting a shot from the left hand corner of the box after Fola Onibuje had caused a few problems with his pace, but the shot was blocked by young Richard Baker.
Up the other end, Simon Lynch, back from a three game suspension, hit the target with a 25 yard free kick and was looking to shake off the conbwebs of two weeks without a game.
16 minutes gone and a superb mazy run by Michael Brown as he danced past four people to get into the box and down to the by-line but he just ran out of space as he tried to pull the ball back to Jackson and couldn't get any purchase on the ball.
Lynch saw another 25 yard free kick tipped over by Tykes keeper Scarsella, which was heading into the top right hand corner and the Lilywhites after 25 minutes looked the better side.
However, a penalty to the visitors was awarded in the 30th minute when Alan McCormack was adjudged to have fouled Nathan Jarman. Neil Austin slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner, a lead which was certainly against the run of play.
North End responded well as Michael Brown curled a shot from the edge of the box just around the right hand post after Simon Lyncvh's good run.
And they deservedly levelled it up in the 35th minute and it was Simon Lynch who fired home right footed from the right hand edge of th six yard box, the shot bouncing up off the floor and into the top left hand corner.
No changes at the break and the second half again started at a high tempo, Brown played through by Omar Daley, but got the ball caught under his feet.
But it was former Lilywhites Fola Onibuje who came back to haunt them when Omar Daley gave the ball away in the centre circle and allowed Onibuje to battle past David Elebert and slot the ball under Gavin Ward into the bottom left hand corner in the 61st minute.
Chris Lucketti was then replaced by Matthew Cropper, in a planned changed (63).
North End levelled it up in the 73rd minute with a flick almost as cheeky as Thierry Henry. Omar Daley got down the right crossed deep. The ball was headed back to Simon Lynch whose shot from 15 yards out was back flicked past the keeper into the bottom right hand corner by Michael Brown.
A good save from Ward denied Onibuje again with 15 minutes left on the clock and the big keeper commanded his area from the corner and set North End away on the break.
A good save from Ward denied Onibuje again with 15 minutes left on the clock and the big keeper commanded his area from the corner and set North End away on the break.
Simon Lynch then brought out a good save from the Tykes keeper after a slick PNE passing move as they looked for a winner.
Late changes for both sides, Omar Daley replaced by Kieran Tracey for the Lilywhites.
And North End grabbed the lead and the winner in the final minute as David Proctor was fed on the left by Simon Lynch, put over a good cross into the six yard box where Mark Jackson buried the ball under the keeper from eight yards out.
Barnsley line-up: Scarsella, Austin, Williams, Laight, Atkinson, Tonge,Heslop, Jarman, Scothern (Joynes, 86), Onibuje, Baker (Loukes). Subs not used: Harban, Farmery, Flinders.