IT may have been a youthful side that Preston fielded at Buckley Town's Globe Way ground, but it was one good enough to put the Red Dragons to the sword and give them top spot in the Division One West.

A goal after just 26 seconds from winger Iain Howard, before a home player had even touched the ball, set the scene for the evening. His cool finish when clean through on keeper Michael Jones gave the visitors a lead their were never to relinquish.

Despite fielding both Alex Smith and Dave Bayliss amongst a collection of youth team players, North End proved too strong an outfit and they went onto register their 12th match unbeaten at reserve team level.

Indeed, for the next 20 minutes Preston held the upper hand and seemed to be attacking the Wrexham goal at will.

That they didn't score again in that period at least  meant we still had a close game on our hands and the Reds slowly fought their way back into the match to compete with North End.

Chris Neal in the Preston goal was rarely tested, but what he had to do, he did well.

After the break, Joey Jones' men probably had the better of the possession, but too often they found their route to goal blocked by defenders like Stephen Cudworth and Mattie Cropper, while full backs Richie Barker and James Archer were just as effective going forward as their were defending.

Unfortunately, we were unable to maintain the scoreline, as at the death Iain Howard ended a left wing run with a driven cross that deflected off a defender's head and into the roof of the net.

Wrexham v Preston NE