A goal from Arran Pettifer wasn’t enough to earn the B team a point as Preston extended their unbeaten record in the Central League.
Pettifer slotted home an equaliser with just over an hour gone at North End’s Springfields training ground.
But the hosts found a winner moments later through Kitt Nelson to secure their first league victory after six successive draws since the start of the campaign.
With several players out on loan, Wanderers fielded a youthful starting line-up as they looked for their fourth league victory.
Pettifer is currently on loan at Atherton Collieries but is permitted to play for the Whites as he lined up alongside Matthew Tweedley and Nelson Khumbeni in the Wanderers’ midfield.
Preston went ahead when Jacob Slater powered home a header from Nelson’s cross inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Pettifer went close to a leveller before the break as he curled an effort just wide but did find the target from the edge of the box to make it 1-1 early in the second half.
However, Matt Craddock's men weren’t on terms for long as five minutes later Nelson converted Noah Mawene’s through-ball to restore Preston’s lead.
And that was enough to take all three points, despite late pressure from the Whites who were denied an equaliser when Tommy Davis – son of former Burnley and Luton defender Steve – saved well from Lynford Sackey and Pettifer before the lively Pettifer put another effort just wide of the target.
Wanderers B: Litherland; Toure, Trialist, Halford; Sackey, Khumbeni, Tweedley, Pettifer, Frimpong; Loureiro (Sharples, 73), Shakespear (Lawrence, 77). Substitutes: Chapman, Kamara, Burgess.