U21s Win at Preston
Monday, 12th Jan 2026 21:23

Jamie Mauge netted twice and Leon Ayinde once as Town’s U21s beat Preston North End 3-0 in the Premier League Cup at Chorley’s Victory Park this evening.

Town took the lead in the 19th minute through Mauge, the striker turning home Somto Boniface’s free-kick.

Ayinde, who played the first half on his return from injury, made it 2-0 on 34, the Irish U21 international slamming in from the edge of the area from Josh Lewis’s cross.

Eight minutes from time, Mauge, who earlier in the season also scored twice as Town and Preston drew 2-2 at Needham Market’s Bloomfields, made it 3-0, again from left-back Boniface’s cross, to seal the three points which see John McGreal and Chris Casement’s side confirm top spot in their group.

Elsewhere, Manchester United’s 4-1 win at Wolves means the Red Devils youngsters move two points clear of the Blues at the top of Premier League 2.

U21s: Williamson, Lewis, Boniface, Elliott, Shabazz-Edwards, Turner, Adebayo (Oudnie-Morgan 60), Carr (c), Mauge, T Taylor, Ayinde (Pitts 46). Unused: W Fletcher, L Fletcher.

Photo: TWTD

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Brogan55 added 08:32 - Jan 13 It is good to see the U 21 doing well.Well done.In Robson’s era the youth team was the reason that we did well.The future is looking good.
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Linkboy13 added 09:41 - Jan 13 The quality of the u21 league is way off championship level and this why we don't have any body pushing to get into the first team they normally get sent out on loan to lower league teams.
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Monkey_Blue added 11:02 - Jan 13

I know plenty of these lads train regularly with the 1st team squad and we clearly rate the likes of Mendel and Boniface so it would be nice to see a couple break into the match day squad. I know Boniface made the bench a few times last season but woolfy is the last academy player to become a regular starter. I don’t count Harry Clarke as he was a pro when we signed him and had first team experience elsewhere. In fact other than Humphreys no one else has even been a bench warmer.

armchaircritic59 added 19:44 - Jan 13

Brogan55, it is good to see it, though it sounds like you saw the younger crop coming through back in SBR's day, just as I did, and I very much doubt there's anything anywhere near that quality in the current one. Love to be proved wrong of course! The Academy is on the way back after decades of neglect, going to be a fairly long road I expect, but hopefully a fruitful one!

MathieandMarshall added 09:51 - Jan 14

Its great to see the youth teams at Town doing well again. We all remember the excitement of seeing a home grown player come on and do well. Its been a while since we had a Bent, Ambrose type break into the team scoring goals!

There is a lad who was released from Town as a youth players who is making his way into the game after a couple of moves. Josh Stokes, Currently on loan at Stockport. Subbed on last night in the Vertu trophy in the 63rd minute while 1-0 down and scored two goals to win Stockport the game! Saw one of their fans comment that he is "head and shoulders above L1/L2 level and could end up skipping the Championship" (I keep an eye on his as worked with a relative of his)

runningout added 11:20 - Jan 14 When Mauge gets a left foot he will be dynamite:-)
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Suffolkunited1983 added 22:39 - Jan 14 From what I’ve been Told the older age groups have some really good coaches but the recruitment has been terrible for players in recent years at those ages apart from one or two. Probably why David has been trusted to help the ladies. Hopefully recruitment gets a lot better so we can have our coaches push them into 1st team
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