BURNLEY completed their Youth Alliance fixtures with a 3-0 home defeat to Lancashire rivals Preston.

The result means that Terry Pashley's side will now compete in the Northern Division Three of the Merit League, following a mid-season format change.

And Pashley has set his young guns a new target of remaining unbeaten between now and the end of the season in their new mini-league.

He said: "It has been a hard season and the goals against column has been our downfall.

"When I look at the league we have scored as many as Tranmere at the top, but we have conceded far too many goals.

"The target now has to be to cut down on the goals against and I have told the lads I want them to try to end the season unbeaten."

The three Merit League Northern Divisions are essentially a three-way merger between the North West, North East and the North Central Conference.

Places in each are allocated on league standings, leaving the Clarets to join eight other clubs from around the country in Division Three.

Each side meets once, four at home and four away, with the opening game at Gawthorpe this Saturday against Macclesfield (11am KO).

Burnley's fixture list reads as follows (all 11am KO unless stated):

February 14...Macclesfield Town (H)

February 28...Halifax Town (A)

March 13...Rochdale (H)

March 20...Bury (H)

March 27...Chester City (A)

April 10...Wrexham (A)

April 17...Darlington (H noon)

April 24...York City (A)