DESPITE the freezing temperatures at Turf Moor, Burnley's experienced reserves met Preston North End last night with the visitors triumphing 3-1.

Clarets boss Stan Ternent played a number of his senior players because he knows he will be needing them match fit over the busy Christmas period.

He also knew that with four players already likely to be out of his 20 man squad for the trip to Gillingham on Saturday he could not afford to suffer any more injuries and it appears as though that was achieved.

As well as giving first teamers including Ian Moore, Tony Grant, Mark McGregor, Dimitri Papadopoulos, Ian Cox and Arthur Gnohere a proper run-out, the Clarets included a French winger, Peter Douala, who is on trial at the club.

He showed some good touches, forced a good save from Tepi Moilanen and looked lively but was withdrawn in favour of Matty O'Neill six minutes before the break. But by then the young Clarets' brother, Joe O'Neill, had already secured bragging rights over Christmas dinner by scoring a hat-trick to give his side the 3-1 lead they held onto.

Brad Maylett, another Claret who is set to feature at Gillingham on Saturday, scored the Clarets' goal to make it 1-1.

His early opener came from a mistake by keeper James Salisbury who left a ball that sailed unhindered into the net.

Brad Maylett, another Claret who is set to feature at Gillingham on Saturday, quickly equalised from close range nut then North End's O'Neill took over.

James Salisbury made a couple of great saves but could not stop young Joe hitting his second and third goals.

Preston deserved their lead and the Clarets could not peg them back after the break, despite dominating in terms of possession.

Andrew Waine had replaced Gordon Armstrong in the first half and Anthony Shandran made his first competitive appearance of the season after the break when he replaced Moore. But there was to be no way back despite North End being reduced to ten men when Alan McCormack was shown a second yellow card..

Shandran did at least force a save out of Moilanen and he will just have been relieved to be back on the pitch after his problems with a stress fracture suffered in pre-season training.

It was a disappointing defeat but if the game has helped to sharpen up some of those who will be on duty at the Priestfield on Saturday, it will have been a worthwhile exercise.

Burnley: Salisbury, Leeson, Cox, Gnohere, McGregor, Douala (O'Neill 39), Armstrong (Waine 33), Grant, Maylett, Moore (Shandran 73), Papadopoulos.

Preston: Moilanen, Broomes, Carvill, Armstrong, Elebert, McCormack, Anderson, Brown, Abbott (Kewley 50), O'Neill, Bailey. Subs not used: Lonergan, Kurwen, Kempson, Kitchen.

BURNLEY RES...1

PRESTON NORTH END...3