Preston North End's unbeaten pre-season run came to an end after losing by three goals to David Moyes' Everton.
All of the goals came in the second half with half time substitute Jermaine Beckford bagging a brace for the Toffees with his goals coming either side of Louis Saha's 67th minute strike.
There were returns for Paul Parry and Adam Barton to the Preston midfield and a similar look to the backline, the only change being Billy Jones reverting to left back for Callum Davidson.
It was Barton who almost opened the scoring for North End in the sixth minute with the young central midfielder driving on into the Everton half and shooting low and hard from outside the penalty area.
Unfortunately, Barton's driven shot was blocked as was the follow up by the youngster. This was nevertheless a promising start by the Lilywhites.
Despite this encouraging start, Saha almost put Everton ahead just two minutes later. The Frenchman's low shot, which was destined for the bottom corner, was saved well by the outstretched arm of Captain for the day Andy Lonergan.
As in the game against Blackburn Rovers, Danny Mayor's play on the right hand side was giving the home faithful something to sing about in the early stages. The winger had a couple of crosses that worried the Toffees backline but Preston were having some degree of difficulty breaking down the Premiership defense.
This was emulated with the North End defense who were constricting Everton to just having long shots in what was proving to be a fairly cagey opening 25 minutes.
In the 25th minute, it was again Saha who was trying his luck from range for the Toffees but his well hit effort was palmed away for a corner by Lonergan.
Chances were coming few and far between towards the end of the half but Paul Hayes came close to making it four goals from four games this pre-season. The forward created space well outside of the penalty area in the 30th minute but Hayes dragged his shot just wide of Iain Turner's post.
For the visitor's, a Mikel Arteta strike and a couple of efforts from Jack Rodwell almost gave the initiative to Moyes' men in the first 45 minutes but it was the dangerous Saha who almost provided Everton with a one goal cushion just before the break.
Saha, who had previously been denied by Lonergan twice in the game was this time denied by the frame of the goal. The striker turned well inside the penalty area and his shot this time beat Lonergan but crashed off of the post.
This was the last chance of the half in a game that was beginning to swing the way of the Toffees.
Everton made a double substitution at half time with Beckford and Seamus Coleman coming on for Arteta and Leyton Baines. However, it was the young Preston duo of Mayor and Barton who came close to grabbing a goal early on for the home side.
Mayor, who for a short period switched to the left hand side, cut inside and ran at the Toffees defence before laying the ball off to Barton. Barton then saw his powerful effort flash over but this was exactly the start that Ferguson would have wanted from his side.
Ten minutes after this chance though, it was the substitute Beckford who made the breakthrough for Everton. A long header forward caught out Craig Morgan at the back enabling Beckford a one-on-one opportunity against Lonergan which he duly converted.
Immediately after the goal, Ferguson made a double substitution of his own with Conor McLaughlin and Keith Treacy coming on for Chris Brown and Parry. These changes prompted a new shape for North End with Hayes becoming the lone striker, Jones again being tried in the central midfield and the young Northern Ireland U21 international slotting in at left back.
The 65th minute mark saw Everton almost double their lead with Dinyar Bilyaletdinov arriving late at the back post only to see his shot ripple the side netting. There were no mistakes a minute later though with Saha doubling the visitor's lead.
Captain Phil Neville played a superb low pass into Saha who in turn spun well inside the penalty area before driving the ball into Lonergan's bottom corner. This was Saha's first effort of the half but the Frenchman converted this chance after looking a real danger to the North End defence in the first half.
Everton were now playing with their tails up and it didn't take long for Beckford to claim his second of the game. Saha clipped the ball over to Beckford at the far post who's side footed volley from close range gave Moyes' men an unassailable lead.
North End, who didn't give up the fight throughout the second half, were on the back foot and struggling to break down a resolute Everton side. Coleman came close to extending the lead for Everton in the 76th minute but his shot came off the upright.
It was a bitter-sweet afternoon for Beckford who was forced off in the 86th minute but the former Leeds forward will grab all of the headlines on Moyes' return to Deepdale. It was another good work out for Preston in this pre-season who will now take on Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Wednesday night.
PNE: Lonergan (c), Gray, Jones, St. Ledger, Morgan, Mayor, Coutts (Proctor 84), Barton, C. Brown (McLaughlin 57), Hayes, Parry (Treacy 57). Subs: Collins, Wright, Douglas, Arestidou.
Everton: Turner, Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines (Coleman, 46), Neville ©, Rodwell (Wallace 79), Bilyaletdinov, Arteta (Beckford 46, (Silva 86)), Guaye (Baxter 72), Saha (Vaughan 72). Subs: Mustafi, Forshaw.
Attendance: 9153.
