A LATE consolation penalty from Accrington's Andrew Waine failed to take the smile off Preston boss Craig Brown's face as he left the Interlink Stadium last night.

The former Scotland manager confessed to have deliberately put out a young side to give them match practice before the new Nationwide campaign begins.

The performance he got in return -- and witnessed by the near-800 crowd in Accrington -- confirmed his belief that he has strength in depth, with a good crop of youngsters to call on if need be once the season gets going.

Brown said: "I was very pleased with that. At the start, we had just six professionals out there, and the eldest of them was Eric Skora, who is only 23, so it was a young side.

"But I have always known we have a good youth set up here and the proof was out there on the field tonight.

"I think we could have had four or five without being greedy, but Andrew Lonergan, our keeper, pulled off some terrific saves to keep them out."

Had it not been for Lonergan, Stanley would have been 3-0 to the good within the first 20 minutes. Three times Lonergan denied Rory Prendergast, Stanley's most dangerous player on the night. And with his third save -- a faint touch which deflected the ball for a corner -- Lonergan showed why several Nationwide clubs are desperate to take him off Preston.

A run down the right followed by a powerful left-footed shot from Pawell Abbott on 21 minutes served warning to Stanley that Preston had their striking boots on. That shot went wide, but three minutes later, Michael Brown found the back of the net.

A lucky ricochet fell into Brown's path after good midfield work from Lee Briscoe and Skora pushed the ball into the area -- and the youngster snapped the ball between Martin Bondswell's legs.

Stanley manager John Coleman was adamant North End were off-side, and made sure young linesman Simon Lucas knew exactly what he thought -- and kept on doing so until he was asked to calm down by the referee Mr Leake. Five minutes later and the same linesman called off-side against North End, prompting a round of applause from Coleman, followed by a quick thumbs up and a roar from the jovial crowd.

On the stroke of half time Preston went two up after Brown was felled on the edge of the penalty area. Scottish international Simon Lynch tucked the ball away -- which was more than Pawel Abbott could do when he took the second penalty of the game, on 46 minutes.

The penalty -- awarded for handball -- was saved by Bondswell as he went full stretch to scoop up the ball.

Abbott sought to make amends and on 60 minutes had the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled off-side.

Both managers chopped and changed half of their teams during the second half, and by the time Preston scored their third, it was a full youth side on the field.

Alan McCormack, on 81 minutes, pulled something out of nothing, intercepting a cross and going right down to the line before tapping home at the tightest of angles.

Stanley's consolation came five minutes from time when Waine was brought down by a huddle of North End defenders keen to get him away from their goal.

His shot flew past sub keeper Chris Neal.

STANLEY 1

PRESTON NE 3

STANLEY: Bondswell, Cavanagh, Hollis, Williams, Smith, Flitcroft, Calcutt, Gouck, James, Mullin, Prendergast. Subs: Waine, Smith, Durnin, Howarth, Conner.

NORTH END: Lonergan, Curwen, Carvill, Elebert, Kempson, Carvill, Brown, Skora, McCormack, Briscoe, Lynch, Abbott. Subs: Neal, Calampett, Lyng, Forker, Langhead.