A Ryan McGreevy brace and a fine header from Tom Smyth were not enough for a young Preston team, as an experienced Blackpool side won local bragging rights in an emphatic seven goal thriller at the QED Stadium.

Straight from the kick off you could see both sides were up for the battle with tackles flying in. It was Blackpool who created the first opportunity though, a lovely turn away from Conor McLaughlin by Danny Mitchely created space for the striker, whose dipping effort just went over Dominic Comrie's bar.

Another chance created by the Tangerines saw Mitchely's strike partner Billy Clarke blaze his shot over. But Blackpool's pressure eventually paid off when in the twelfth minute Clarke made up for his earlier miss. North End gave possession away to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who slipped the ball through to Clarke, who calmly finished giving the visitors a deserved lead.

But almost immediately North End hit back with an equaliser from their first real attempt on goal. A dangerous free kick on the right from youngster Neil Dougan was met by skipper Smyth, who powered a header into the roof of the net, putting the Lilywhites back on level terms in the 14th minute.

Dougan turned provider again as Preston came from a goal behind to take the lead in the 21st minute. The tricky winger skipped past defender Ben Breakell with ease to square to McGreevy who placed the ball past Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks.

It was now Blackpool's turn to respond to going one down, which they did by scoring two minutes after PNE took the lead. Central midfielder Louis Almond shrugged off a tackle from Smyth to curl a fine effort in from the edge of the area.

The fans that turned out for the game were definitely not disappointed, as for the second time in the match Blackpool took the lead. A through ball from Al Bangura in the 29th minute split open the Preston defence, which Emmanuel-Thomas latched onto to slot home and give the visitors a half time advantage.

Four minutes into the second half Preston thought they had drawn back level, a cross from Danny Mayor was side footed into the goal by McGreevy but it was ruled as offside.

Then in the 60th minute, drama occurred at the other end. A powerful run by Emmanuel-Thomas, who had caused PNE problems all evening, was brought down by skipper Smyth in the area and Blackpool were awarded a penalty. Emmanuel-Thomas stepped up himself to take the spot kick, but it was magnificently saved by Comrie. However it was ordered to be re-taken to the shock of the Preston players because Comrie was alleged to come off his line. Emmanuel-Thomas didn't blow his second chance, sending Comrie the wrong way.

Preston hit back though once again in the 67th minute when a scramble in the Blackpool penalty area from a Dougan corner was not cleared by the visitors, allowing McGreevy a sight of goal and the striker did what he does best and rifled the ball into the net.

Blackpool were then reduced to ten men in the 70th minute as Ishmel Demontagnac was sent on his way by the referee after the former Walsall man head butted North End left back Phil Quirk.

Preston couldn't capitalise on their one man advantage as a resilient Blackpool defence saw out the final 20 minutes to condemn North End to their second defeat of the season.

Development coach David Unsworth said: "Well it was a tough game, we had a very young side out their tonight and Blackpool had a very experienced team.

"They fielded seven first teamers and certainly first half we didn't compete anywhere near the levels we should have done. We had a chat at half time and I thought in the second half we came out and competed a lot better. Maybe on a different night we could have scored a couple more goals and the penalty save was a dubious decision, with him having to take it again.

"All in all I think tonight has been a stiff learning curve for our young lads; you need to compete whenever you play football, no matter what level it is. When you come up against strong, quick first team players in reserve games who are up for it, you have to match that and for an hour or so which we didn't do. We then got a reaction which made me happier and we tried passing it which got us a couple of goals.

"Result wise it isn't the be all and end all; it was more the performance of the lads that concerned us. The lads have had a lesson tonight in men's football and what it takes to compete at that level."
End

PNE: Dominic Comrie, Conor Mclaughlin Phil Quirk, George Miller (Tom Owens, 49), Tom Smyth (capt), Dominic Collins, Danny Mayor, Adam Barton, Ryan McGreevy, Jamie Proctor, Neil Dougan. Unused subs: Scott Davidson, Jordan Watson, Sam Hart, Daniel Devine.

Blackpool: Matt Gilks, Ben Breakell (Mark Halstead, 45), Joe Martin, Marcel Seip, Ashley Eastham, Al Bangura, Ishmel Demontagnac, Louis Almond, Danny Mitchley, Billy Clarke, Jay Emmanuel - Thomas. Unused subs: Ian Evatt, Adam Foster, Jake Rooney, Kurt Bradley.

Report by Jonathon Swift. Photos by Andy Stunell / Lenscap Photography