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Saturday 25th July 2026
Pre-season friendly
Marine AFC 3-0 Preston NE U21s
Attendance:407
Admission: £8 adults £5 concessions
"These are shocking for a Championship U21s side" was a comment from one Marine fan and that tells you all you need to know. For anyone who wants a bit more depth see below.
Firstly Marine. They're perhaps most famous recently for playing Spurs in the FA cup during COVID when they sold thousands of virtual match tickets and they're a club on the up and about to start their 3rd season in the National League North - a level that ultimately will be too high for the majority of the Preston NE players on show.
Marine's ground is a traditional non-league affair, overlooked by houses on 3 sides and opens up onto a main road on the other. It has a plastic pitch which is now showing its age with the black crumb very visible even from distance. Unusually for a ground the only seats are behind both goals and there's no option of upgrading the ground so they've got plans in place to build a 5,000 capacity new ground on the edge of Crosby.
The match was a typical Pre-season affair in that it struggled to get going in the first half and then very one sided in the final half half with Preston NE's team of Trialists, young pros with no prospect of being involved in the first team and under 18s creating probably just two chances of note throughout the game.
Okay, there are currently about half a dozen young pros currently out in Spain who it could be argued make up the main body of the U21 squad but even they would have struggled against this Marine side.
There was no team sheet available and club updates are non existent these days so apologies if I've got any of the players wrong but then they'd probably rather not be credited with such a disappointing performance anyway.
Formation was practically a 4-4-2 but harder to see tweeks in formation when sat at the back behind the goal but it wouldn't have looked out of place in the 90s - had a very Euro 96 feel to it.
Game started out pretty even and Preston NE had the first proper chance when Trialist number 9 headed over - initially I thought this was Michael Ayodele but he was on the bench.
On 27 minutes Kayden Kamara went into a challenge unnecessarily hard and former Brig cult hero Fin Smith swung the resulting free-kick in to the box. A Marine player was the quickest to react and his header found its way into the bottom corner.
The second half was practically a non-event until Marine made some changes on the hour mark and then started to take control. The Preston NE defence started to make mistakes and from a corner that wasn't properly cleared another Marine header nestled in the far corner.
Preston NE's only response of note was a 20 yard crumb disturber from Kamara that the keeper had to save but in the 91st minute Marine added a third which didn't flatter them.
Preston NE U21s team:
1: Swift. He's very tall but not the most agile. Couldn't have done anything about the first two goals but also the type of keeper that unlikely to make wonder saves on a regular basis. 3rd goal he'd saved an initial shot but the rebound went towards the penalty spot giving the Marine attacker a clear shot on goal.
2. Whalley. Played 90 minutes at right-back. Was okay for the first hour but once Marine had pushed Fin Smith into a number 10 free role he was found wanting. On the bright side though, he got the most minutes of the under 18s outfield players so has time on his side
3. Trialist. Played left-back first half and LCB second half. Could have been mistaken for Joe Blake and started okay but cramping up in the second half and had to go off on 85 minutes. Didn't appear to be an improvement on what we already have.
4. Stringfellow. Played 45 minutes DCM. Not going to write what I want because it'd be unfair on what is essentially a young lad trying to live his dream but draw your own conclusions from the fact he only played the first half.
5. Trialist. Played 90 minutes at RCB. Looked like the lad who wore number 5 at Longridge. Was decent enough for 60 minutes but completely fell to pieces as the game went on and if he hasn't already signed a deal he's probably ruined his chances.
6. Lescott. Played LCB in first half and centre mid second half. Positive is that he completed the full 90 as injuries have hampered his progression in the past 12 months. For a moment in the second half it looked like he was starting to link up well with Kamara but then Marine switched it up and he became anonymous. Doubt it would have made a difference if he'd had remained at centre back.
7. Trialist. Played 90 minutes right wing. Had a few tricks up his sleeve in the first half and was brought down twice in the first half when on a promising attack which resulted in yellow cards being issued. Hardly got a kick in the second half. Didn't play against Longridge but looks like one of the players who appeared in the photos from the Lancaster game. Very much a traditional winger which was fine in this game but if the U21s revert to Ridsdale's system come whatever Premier League 2 games they get I can't see where he'd fit into the team.
8. Kamara. Played 90 minutes in centre mid - sitting deeper in the second half. This was his opportunity to show that he could hack it in the National North but wouldn't have impressed many.
9. Trialist. Played 90 minutes up top. Initially with number the 10 dropping deeper but for the final half an hour an had Ayodele for company. Didn't get his best chance on target and wasn't overly impressive but more suited to the U21s than Shay Reid is currently. Didn't appear any better than the Trialist who played in that position at Longridge but don't know his background.
10. Trialist. Played 60 minutes in the Teddy Sherringham role. Same lad who played at Longridge. First 30 minutes were positive but tailed off massively and at one point turned a promising attack into a dead end and ran the ball out of play. Different to any other forward we have though.
11. Pasiak. Played 90 minutes. First half left wing. Second half left back. Largely annoymous bar a 5 minute spell in the first half. Like Kamara seemingly winding the clock down on his time at the club. Will speak volumes if he gets loaned out to the Northern Premier League soon to continue his slide.
Subs:
Longson came on at halftime for Stringfellow. Played left-wing. Has good close ball control but doesn't have the skill that Fin Smith has, who is a similar size, which is needed in senior football.
Ayodele. Came on at 60 minutes. The game was still there for the taking and he did have a good battle with James Butler, who is the stereotypical non-league centre back, but still very raw. However, that performances suggests he's physically ready for a loan and might end up at Brig.
Another sub came on in the 85th minute, which wasn't planned as No 3 had cramp. Don't know who it was but he had blond hair and looked to be about 5ft 9".
Shay Reid was also on the bench but the fact he didn't even get 10 minutes shows to me where he's at. Think another sub was Aaron Garrigan but our under 18s definitely aren't ready for the likes of Marine. No sign of O'Sullivan.
Likely to be the Premier League Cup before I watch the U21s again. There's a rumour going around that we want to join the Premier League 2 league but previously you've needed a category 2 academy for that but who knows what's going on behind the scenes. We've certainly never had this many trialists in during the summer for the U21s.
Pre-season friendly
Marine AFC 3-0 Preston NE U21s
Attendance:407
Admission: £8 adults £5 concessions
"These are shocking for a Championship U21s side" was a comment from one Marine fan and that tells you all you need to know. For anyone who wants a bit more depth see below.
Firstly Marine. They're perhaps most famous recently for playing Spurs in the FA cup during COVID when they sold thousands of virtual match tickets and they're a club on the up and about to start their 3rd season in the National League North - a level that ultimately will be too high for the majority of the Preston NE players on show.
Marine's ground is a traditional non-league affair, overlooked by houses on 3 sides and opens up onto a main road on the other. It has a plastic pitch which is now showing its age with the black crumb very visible even from distance. Unusually for a ground the only seats are behind both goals and there's no option of upgrading the ground so they've got plans in place to build a 5,000 capacity new ground on the edge of Crosby.
The match was a typical Pre-season affair in that it struggled to get going in the first half and then very one sided in the final half half with Preston NE's team of Trialists, young pros with no prospect of being involved in the first team and under 18s creating probably just two chances of note throughout the game.
Okay, there are currently about half a dozen young pros currently out in Spain who it could be argued make up the main body of the U21 squad but even they would have struggled against this Marine side.
There was no team sheet available and club updates are non existent these days so apologies if I've got any of the players wrong but then they'd probably rather not be credited with such a disappointing performance anyway.
Formation was practically a 4-4-2 but harder to see tweeks in formation when sat at the back behind the goal but it wouldn't have looked out of place in the 90s - had a very Euro 96 feel to it.
Game started out pretty even and Preston NE had the first proper chance when Trialist number 9 headed over - initially I thought this was Michael Ayodele but he was on the bench.
On 27 minutes Kayden Kamara went into a challenge unnecessarily hard and former Brig cult hero Fin Smith swung the resulting free-kick in to the box. A Marine player was the quickest to react and his header found its way into the bottom corner.
The second half was practically a non-event until Marine made some changes on the hour mark and then started to take control. The Preston NE defence started to make mistakes and from a corner that wasn't properly cleared another Marine header nestled in the far corner.
Preston NE's only response of note was a 20 yard crumb disturber from Kamara that the keeper had to save but in the 91st minute Marine added a third which didn't flatter them.
Preston NE U21s team:
1: Swift. He's very tall but not the most agile. Couldn't have done anything about the first two goals but also the type of keeper that unlikely to make wonder saves on a regular basis. 3rd goal he'd saved an initial shot but the rebound went towards the penalty spot giving the Marine attacker a clear shot on goal.
2. Whalley. Played 90 minutes at right-back. Was okay for the first hour but once Marine had pushed Fin Smith into a number 10 free role he was found wanting. On the bright side though, he got the most minutes of the under 18s outfield players so has time on his side
3. Trialist. Played left-back first half and LCB second half. Could have been mistaken for Joe Blake and started okay but cramping up in the second half and had to go off on 85 minutes. Didn't appear to be an improvement on what we already have.
4. Stringfellow. Played 45 minutes DCM. Not going to write what I want because it'd be unfair on what is essentially a young lad trying to live his dream but draw your own conclusions from the fact he only played the first half.
5. Trialist. Played 90 minutes at RCB. Looked like the lad who wore number 5 at Longridge. Was decent enough for 60 minutes but completely fell to pieces as the game went on and if he hasn't already signed a deal he's probably ruined his chances.
6. Lescott. Played LCB in first half and centre mid second half. Positive is that he completed the full 90 as injuries have hampered his progression in the past 12 months. For a moment in the second half it looked like he was starting to link up well with Kamara but then Marine switched it up and he became anonymous. Doubt it would have made a difference if he'd had remained at centre back.
7. Trialist. Played 90 minutes right wing. Had a few tricks up his sleeve in the first half and was brought down twice in the first half when on a promising attack which resulted in yellow cards being issued. Hardly got a kick in the second half. Didn't play against Longridge but looks like one of the players who appeared in the photos from the Lancaster game. Very much a traditional winger which was fine in this game but if the U21s revert to Ridsdale's system come whatever Premier League 2 games they get I can't see where he'd fit into the team.
8. Kamara. Played 90 minutes in centre mid - sitting deeper in the second half. This was his opportunity to show that he could hack it in the National North but wouldn't have impressed many.
9. Trialist. Played 90 minutes up top. Initially with number the 10 dropping deeper but for the final half an hour an had Ayodele for company. Didn't get his best chance on target and wasn't overly impressive but more suited to the U21s than Shay Reid is currently. Didn't appear any better than the Trialist who played in that position at Longridge but don't know his background.
10. Trialist. Played 60 minutes in the Teddy Sherringham role. Same lad who played at Longridge. First 30 minutes were positive but tailed off massively and at one point turned a promising attack into a dead end and ran the ball out of play. Different to any other forward we have though.
11. Pasiak. Played 90 minutes. First half left wing. Second half left back. Largely annoymous bar a 5 minute spell in the first half. Like Kamara seemingly winding the clock down on his time at the club. Will speak volumes if he gets loaned out to the Northern Premier League soon to continue his slide.
Subs:
Longson came on at halftime for Stringfellow. Played left-wing. Has good close ball control but doesn't have the skill that Fin Smith has, who is a similar size, which is needed in senior football.
Ayodele. Came on at 60 minutes. The game was still there for the taking and he did have a good battle with James Butler, who is the stereotypical non-league centre back, but still very raw. However, that performances suggests he's physically ready for a loan and might end up at Brig.
Another sub came on in the 85th minute, which wasn't planned as No 3 had cramp. Don't know who it was but he had blond hair and looked to be about 5ft 9".
Shay Reid was also on the bench but the fact he didn't even get 10 minutes shows to me where he's at. Think another sub was Aaron Garrigan but our under 18s definitely aren't ready for the likes of Marine. No sign of O'Sullivan.
Likely to be the Premier League Cup before I watch the U21s again. There's a rumour going around that we want to join the Premier League 2 league but previously you've needed a category 2 academy for that but who knows what's going on behind the scenes. We've certainly never had this many trialists in during the summer for the U21s.
