A five-star Preston performance thrashed Walsall 5 - 0 away in Birmingham.
A hat-trick from Ryan McGreevy and goals from Jamie Proctor and Bailey Wright capped a show of dominance from North End, who bounced back strongly from two consecutive defeats.
Despite the score line, the early moments of the game in no way suggested what was to come, with both sides starting very evenly and creating few chances.
Walsall began as the slightly stronger attacking side, winger Will Melors-Blair playing a good ball to Jamie Patterson, but the striker failed to compose himself as goalkeeper Dominic Comrie swept down to collect the ball.
Comrie produced the save of the game seconds later to keep George Bowerman's close range effort out with a stunning point-blank save.
It was Preston who went in front after half an hour, Tom Owens lifting a good ball into the box which evaded the Walsall defence and found the feet of free-scoring striker Proctor who showed sublime skill to round the 'keeper and slot in.
The Saddlers reacted positively to going behind, passing and keeping possession well. Patterson almost levelled after 40 minutes, shaping to shoot in the penalty area before Danny Devine got back just in time to block the striker.
It was the away side who finished the half on a high, and doubled their lead in extra time when Sam Hart's corner found its way through a crowd of players to Bailey Wright on the far post, his shot giving 'keeper James Wren no chance.
Preston continued to dominate after the break with Proctor and Neil Dougan both hitting the bar in the early moments. McGreevy should have scored after an hour as Proctor sent a curling cross into the box ahead of the striker, who could not connect with the ball from a yard out. But McGreevy made amends for his miss five minutes later when he converted an almost identical chance, once again set up by Proctor to put North End three goals ahead.
Ten minutes later Jamie Hoyland's side killed the game with a classy counter attack. Dougan played a pinpoint through ball to Proctor, then rather than testing the approaching 'keeper squared to the unmarked McGreevy, who stroked the ball into an empty net.
Walsall's misery continued, their only shot on target of the second half taking 30 minutes as Patterson fired a tame shot from long range which was easily dealt with by Comrie.
In extra time McGreevy completed his hat-trick, tapping in Dougan's corner after Devine had a header blocked off the line which fell to the young striker's feet.
Walsall had a chance to rain on Preston's parade in the dying seconds of the game, but substitute Connor Deards could only hit the post to mark a wretched day for the midlands side.
Youth team manager Jamie Hoyland was in a buoyant mood after the game. He said: "It couldn't have gone any better; we played the team second in the league today after coming down earlier in the season and losing."
"A few players stood out, obviously Ryan McGreevy because he scored the three goals, but for me Scott Leather at right back was fantastic. As a team performance it was excellent and after last week I'm glad to get back to winning ways."
PNE: Comrie, Leather, Hart, Miller (c), Wright, Devine, McLaughlin (Davidson, 72), Owens, McGreevy, Proctor, Dougan. Subs: Watson, Holtom, McLellan.
WFC: Wren, Wood, Keenen (Hancox, 81), Geddes, Hickman, Partridge (c), Melors-Blair (Butlin, 81), McCourt, Bowerman, Patterson, Jones (Deards, 65). Subs: Cooney, Cresswell.
Report by Chris Jones. Photography by Mark McLoughlin
