THE Clarets youth team has boosted its chances of a top three spot in the Football League Youth Alliance with two wins in three days.

Saturday's 4-0 drubbing of Preston North End was followed by yesterday's narrow 1-0 victory at Oldham in a game switched from Gawthorpe because of flooding.

"It has been great to get two clean sheets in three days," enthused manager Terry Pashley who also hailed the defeat of Preston as the best display of the season.

"Our defenders are now doing their jobs better than they were earlier in the season, they are learning."

The good defence included a brilliant penalty save by keeper James Salisbury in yesterday's win after Andrew Leeson had converted from the spot earlier in the first half.

"We took the lead after 20 minutes when Damien Hindle was chopped down as he was about to shoot from six yards," said Pashley.

"Then just before half time James sent one of their players sprawling in a typical incident where a keeper dives at the feet of an attacker running on to a through ball, just misses the ball and gets his feet. But he did ever so well to get up and save the shot low to his right.

But it was the attacking display against Preston two days earlier that had Pashley purring with delight.

"That was the best we have played all season and it is not unfair to say it could have been more," he said. "A score of 4-0 is a thumping but we had plenty more chances and James only actually had one save to make.

"Also it was excellent because Preston have got a good side but every single player was on form that day, right from back to front."

The goals came courtesy of midfielder Joel Pilkington and striker Matthew O'Neill who both bagged a brace to reward the team for its efforts.

Twice Pilkington burst into the six yard box to fire home while O'Neill made and scored one for himself before benefiting from the perseverance of Hindle.

Perhaps the enforced four week break since the defeat at Tranmere Rovers had sharpened the appetites but Pashley's youngsters know they will have to be up for it again on Saturday morning when they take on the Wirral side at Gawthorpe in a rearranged fixture.

They have already lost three times to them this season, once in the league and twice in cups, and their performance against Tranmere will provide a good indication of their progress this season.

A couple of players may be used in the behind doors practice match that Stan Ternent has arranged for his senior squad for tomorrow following the postponement of the reserves match against West Brom.