York City U18s opened their EFL Youth Alliance season with a hard-fought point away at Preston North End on Saturday.
Lucas Russell and Isaac Swansbury missed this one through injury.
Preston went close first, as Aaron Garrigan won the ball in City’s half and played it to Michael Ayodele, who turned and fired a strike just wide of the far post.
Tom Hewson had penalty appeals waved away in the 12th minute after bursting through and going down inside the North End box.
A golden chance arose for the hosts when Keith Adeleye whipped in the perfect ball to find Harry Gerrard, whose close-range header was well-blocked by Campbell White, before the follow-up was struck wide.
In the 37th minute, a Preston man saw his curling attempt fly off target, before the final chance of the half fell to City’s Sutton Greening, who took on a half-volley from range which skewed wide of goal.
Early in the second half, the Lilywhites went close with a swerving shot from inside the box which narrowly evaded the top corner.
The Minstermen were forced into a change early in the second half, with Oscar Woolford leaving the field. Blake Appleyard entered the fray and went straight into the action, spreading the ball out wide for Luka Ozisik, who whipped in a low ball which the ‘keeper claimed.
Preston then had a shot deflected into the side-netting, before seeing two strikes blocked from the resulting corner.
A flurry of chances came for York from the 75th minute, as we began to apply the pressure and take some control of proceedings.
Ozisik laid the ball off for Greening, who hit it first time from 25 yards to sting the palms of the ‘keeper, who quickly prevented any opportunity for a follow-up.
Just moments later, forward Hewson rifled over the bar before, from a corner, Ollie Belleh’s volley from the edge of the penalty area was blocked by a white shirt.
For the second time in the game, the home side struck the side-netting, this time through Ayodele.
In the 84th minute, Jack Turner did excellently to spin his man on the right and get a shot off, but it was easily held by the North End shot-stopper.
Down the other end, there was danger for the Minstermen as a loose ball fell in the area, but Preston were unable to force the ball over the line as White smothered it.
In stoppage time, with both sides looking for the elusive opener, Appleyard saw a window of opportunity but couldn’t keep his effort down, as City settled for a rewarding point on matchday one.
Preston North End U18s: Swift, Jackson, Nickson, Garrigan, Whalley (Hickey 46′), Green, Longson (Imadiyi 46′), Buckley, Ayodele, Gerrard (C), Adeyele (Boggan 46′).
Sub not used: Battrick.
York City U18s: White, Kydd, Beadle, Belleh (C), Hall, Greening, Woolford (Appleyard 57′), Turner, Hewson, Ozisik (Webster 90′), Binns (Penrose 72′).
