Preston erased all memories of their opening day defeat with a 5-0 rout of Paul Simpson's Stockport County at Edgeley Park in the Carling Cup First Round.

The night also set a new milestone in North End's history with substitute Doyle Middleton contending for PNE's youngest ever player whilst wearing the largest outfield number the Club has ever seen.

It was a brilliant performance from the Lilywhites, who really turned it on in the second half, scoring four goals after captain Callum Davidson had given them the lead in first half stoppage time.

Davidson scored from the spot after Danny Mayor was brought down in the area, before the Lilywhites took their chances in the second half. Matty James grabbed the next with a brilliant left-foot volley in the 62nd minute. Paul Hayes then bagged a brace, the first coming from another penalty after James was fouled, and the second a tap-in from a Josh King cross late on. Youngster Joshua King put the icing on the cake with a beautiful side-foot finish in stoppage time following a rapid break away.

Darren Ferguson gave a first team debut to 18-year-old defender Bailey Wright, who partnered Billy Jones at centre-back for a threadbare Lilywhites squad.

Paul Parry continued his comeback from injury with his first start under Ferguson, whilst Chris Brown and Paul Hayes continued their partnership up front.

There was also space on the bench for King, Darel Russell, and young midfielder Doyle Middleton, who at 16 became one of the youngest PNE players in history when he came on in the second half.

Ex-PNE manager Paul Simpson named his strongest side for the visit of his former club. Danny Swailes captained Stockport from the back, whilst on-loan dangerman George Donnelly was looking to drag Simpson's side through to the second round.

The first half chance of the game fell to PNE, when Parry took advantage of a Matty James through-ball on the right. The Welsh-winger then drove his cross across the six-yard-box, but Brown couldn't quite get there in time and Stockport were let off the hook.

After a speculative 30-yard effort from Greg Tansey, Preston went straight up the other end in the 13th minute, but Parry failed to test the keeper. Brown had pulled it back but the wide man couldn't keep his left-foot strike down from 12-yards out.

Hayes went one better in the 23rd minute when Stockport keeper Owain Fon Williams produced a save right out of the top drawer to stop the former-Scunthorpe man's free-kick. The 25-yard shot was heading straight for the top corner when Williams somehow managed to push it wide for a corner.

Despite a couple of Stockport openings that went begging PNE were well on top thanks to Paul Coutts' energetic runs from midfield and Parry's availability on the right. However Danny Mayor was booked in the 33rd minute for a tackle from behind on County's Mark Lynch.

The best chance of the half then fell to Coutts, who after another clever James through-ball was through on goal. The midfielder took a touch on his right foot before getting a shot away but Fon Williams was equal to it.

Brown got in on the act one minute later, rising high above Mansour Assoumani to meet David Gray's cross and force another save as Preston pushed for the first goal before half-time.

The PNE pressure soon paid off, as the referee awarded Preston a 45th-minute penalty after Andy Halls brought Mayor down on the right side of the box. Callum Davidson stepped up to put the kick in the top-left corner, netting his first of the season and making it 1-0 to Preston just as the sides went in for half-time.

The second half began as the first had ended, with North End well on top. Stockport were certainly looking dangerous when they did go forward though, as David Unsworth ordered Brown back to defend corners.

A great cross from Mayor on the right created a good opening in the 55th minute. He was looking for Brown on the far post but the big man couldn't reach it and collided with the post.

James finally added a well deserved second in the 57th minute with a beautifully struck left-footed strike from the left of the box. Davidson had flicked it on from the throw on the left before the England U19 captain effortlessly controlled it for the volley.

Paul Simpson looked to be heading for defeat against his former club and decided to make the first change on 62 minutes. He brought on Danny Pilkington for youngster Danny Rowe in midfield.

Stockport were getting the ball into PNE's box, but they just weren't creating any meaningful chances. North End on the other hand were growing in confidence, Danny Mayor lashing a 25-yarder just wide in the 64th minute, shortly before the introduction of Adam Barton for Coutts.

Things continued to get worse for Stockport, as referee Mark Haywood awarded a second penalty to Preston in the 66th minute after James was bundled down on the edge of the area. Hayes stepped up this time and coolly put it to the keepers right, making it 3-0 and scoring his first goal for Preston.

With just over 20 minutes to go the game seemed won, and if anything North End were going to add to their lead, as Adam Barton's shot from a narrow angle rolled just wide.

Big striker Barry Conlon made way for ex-Liverpool man Richie Partridge, whilst young United loanee Josh King replaced Brown for Preston in the 72nd minute.

With Sir Alex Ferguson present, young King made an immediate impact for PNE. His dazzling run down the right left Andy Halls for dead, and once in the box he had the composure to square for Hayes, who grabbed his second of the match with a tap in on 75 minutes, making it 4-0 to the Lilywhites.

With just 11 minutes left in the match, Darren Ferguson brought on Doyle Middleton, who became one of the youngest ever North End players, at 16 years and 121 days when he replaced double-goalscorer Paul Hayes. Stockport also brought on Tom Fisher for Asoumnami just afterwards.

This five-star Preston performance was complete in the 88th minute when King capped off a fine display with the fifth goal. He capitalised on a poor defensive header from Mark Lynch, who had just been named the man-of-the-match, to find himself one-on-one with Fon Williams before slotting it into the bottom corner with his right foot.

Sixteen-year-old Middleton almost added a sixth when he dribbled through the Stockport defence in stoppage time, but in the end the angle was too tight for the young man and it ended up 5-0, a scoreline and performance that will delight manager Darren Ferguson.