BURNLEY'S youngsters stumbled at the first of three attempts to earn silverware this season, as they lost out to Preston North End in last night's Lancs FA Youth Cup final at Deepdale, despite a late fightback.

The teenagers, who are challenging for both the Puma Youth Alliance and totesport.com reserves league titles, contributed to an entertaining first half, in which a Dominic Knowles equaliser sent them into the break at 1-1.

But, although a late own goal, from Michael King's initial shot, gave the Clarets hope of taking the game into extra time, they ultimately suffered for shipping two early second half goals.

Burnley had started the brighter, and Nik Kudiersky had an early shot beaten away after finding himself unmarked inside the box.

However, uncertainty crept into the Clarets' backline, and Adam Barton capitalised by putting Preston in front on 13 minutes.

Fullback Dan Brown averted the initial first danger signs, and from the corner Jamie Proctor had a shot charged down. Burnley couldn't fully clear their lines, though, and when Kudiersky's headed clearance fell straight to Barton on the edge of the area, the midfielder found the bottom left corner.

Burnley tried to hit back, but Fletcher had a volley deflected wide of the angle, while King's low shot was blocked out.

Chris Anderson dragged a shot wide at the end of a flowing move from the right, King was denied by goalkeeper Jack Cudworth's legs from the edge of the box, and Knowles rounded off a trio of chances on the half-hour by heading wide from 18 yards.

The young forward was then unlucky to power a header over from Dil Chaggar's centre soon afterwards. But Preston succumbed to increasing pressure nine minutes before the break as Knowles stabbed a shot into the bottom right corner.

But Ritchie had to snuff out a chance for the Lilywhites just before the break though, saving at the onrushing Jamie Proctor's feet. And Preston made sure they stayed on the front foot as they restored their lead six minutes into the second half. King stayed down after a midfield challenge, but Conor McLaughlin continued his run down the right and drilled a low shot into the opposite corner to restore North End's lead.

Ryan McGreevy made it 3-1 two minutes later and the game looked lost for Burnley at that point.

But the youngsters never gave up. Fletcher had good chances to reduce the arrears, but hit the side netting after being played through by Chaggar, and clipped a right-footer just over the bar after getting in front of his marker to meet King's left-wing delivery.

Preston stopper Cudworth was lucky to stay on the pitch when he handled the ball outside the box to deny Lynch from the impressive King's crossfield ball.

Burnley couldn't make the most of the free kick, but prompted a dramatic finale when King's shot went in off a Preston defender.

Newman and Fletcher had good chances to take the game into extra time, but the equaliser evaded them.

PNE YTH: Jack Cudworth; Conor McLaughlin, Tom Smyth, Dominic Collins, Phil Quirk; Danny Mayor, George Miller, Adam Barton, Neil Dougan; Ryan McGreevy (Jamie Douglas 68), Jamie Proctor.

Subs: Ben Proctor, Tom Owens, Sam Hart, Scott Davidson.

BURNLEY YTH: Stef Ritchie; Dan Brown, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Jake McEneaney; Dil Chaggar (Liam Newman 72), Chris Anderson, Alex-Ray Harvey, Michael King; Dominic Knowles.

Subs: Danny MacDonald, Oliver Devenney, Edward Williams, Ross Wilson.