Accrington Stanley suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Championship side Preston North End as they gear up to the start of the League One season in a fortnight.
Lukas Jensen saved a spot kick before Emil Riis scored seven minutes before the break to seal the win for North End.
John Coleman once again gave the majority of his squad a run-out and they have two more friendlies before they focus on the season opener at home to Charlton on Saturday 30th July.
The first shot came from an Ethan Hamilton free kick on four minutes but it was straight into Freddie Woodman’s arms.
At the other end, Danish striker Riis fired wide in North End’s first attack on seven minutes.
PNE were awarded a penalty on 18 minutes when goalkeeper Jensen was judged to have brought down Ched Evans in the area. The Burnley loan keeper superbly saved the spot kick from Jamaican international Daniel Johnson.
Jensen was in the thick of it again, denying Evans from close range, while Mo Sangare’s ball in was headed over by Joe Pritchard.
North End opened the scoring on 38 minutes when Johnson raced forward on the left, squared the ball into the area and last season’s top scorer Riis was waiting to stroke the ball home.
Stanley pressed towards the end of the half but there was still time for Jensen to produce another strong save to keep out a Brad Potts effort.
Toby Savin replaced Jensen at half-time for the Reds and both sides made a host of changes on 55 minutes.
One of the subs Shaun Whalley fired a free kick just over the bar on the hour mark while Woodman made a good save to keep out a Tommy Leigh volley.
Savin denied Ben Woodburn, Harry Pell fired over the bar for Stanley and Liam Lindsay headed over the bar for the visitors as the Reds couldn't find an equaliser.
Stanley starting XI: Jensen, Clark, Astley, Rich-Bagheulou, Sangare, Pritchard, Coyle, Hamilton, McConville, Lowe, Bishop
Subs used: Savin, Whalley, Adedoyin, Longelo, Pell, Leigh, Rodgers, Nolan
Subs not used: Conneely, Martin, Procter, Perritt
Attendance: 1897 (1014 from PNE)