Preston hit Morecambe for six for the second time this season as the young Lilywhites easily won at Victory Park.
A goal in the opening minute set Preston up to a comfortable victory as Eddie Dsane and Jonathan Lunney both scored twice, with Bradley Roscoe and James Boyd completing the scoring.
Preston Manager Nick Harrison said: “We know we’ve got good players, we’ve got players all around the pitch who are capable of scoring and that has been proven today.
“We created lots of chances and it was just that final finish whether it be a cross or a shot, it could have been a lot more and that is no disrespect to Morecambe but we’ve got players that are capable of hurting teams and maybe on another day the score line could have been more.”
Preston got off to the perfect start as they were ahead in less than a minute through Roscoe, whose flick from a cross down the left-hand side looped over Morecambe keeper Andreas Arestidou.
The Lilywhites didn’t have to wait long for a second as Dsane doubled Preston’s lead. Luke Pritchard had the beating of his man and played the ball across the six yard box where it was tapped home by Preston’s number nine.
Things were going from bad to worse for Morecambe as they gifted the hosts a third. The visitors were found guilty of being too casual in possession and as Arestidou panicked he kicked the ball straight at Lunney who deflected the attempted clearance into an empty net.
North End finished the half as they had started it with a goal as Lunney grabbed his second and his sides fourth on the stroke of half-time. Pritchard again had the beating of his man and his cross was met by Lunney who had time to take a touch and dispatch the ball beyond Arestidou on the half volley.
As Preston went into half-time four goals ahead, they came out in the second and were immediately looking for more.
Morecambe were able to keep Preston out for longer in the second half than they did the first, but that was more through the chances that the Whites were missing as they were unable to convert chances into goals.
But Preston were not to be denied in adding to the score line as Boyd created room for himself on the edge of the area before firing the ball across goal and into the corner as Morecambe’s day got worse.
But Preston’s scoring for the day was complete as Morecambe again failed to clear their lines and substitute Lamin Jagne helped the ball onto the Dsane who struck the ball on the turn to thunder in for number six of the afternoon.
Preston nearly had a seventh as Adam James Robinson hit the crossbar with a header in the final few minutes, but Preston had to settle for six just like they had in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Preston were by far and away the better team as they started quickly and continued to push on throughout the game.
While Dsane and Preston could have had more, the Preston forward was delighted with the team performance and to be back scoring goals.
He said: “It was a great performance from us, I think it’s been a while since we’ve played this well, we had a lot of shots against Blackpool and it didn’t seem to be our day, but to get six today it’s been a long time coming.
“It’s more of a relief because I haven’t scored in a while so I’ve ended my goal drought but it’s a team performance so I’m just happy my teammates can set the ball up for me.”
The result was Preston’s last home fixture of the season and Harrison will be glad with how well his side have played at Victory Park this season.
He said: “We always set a challenge for the players to score goals and wins games, we never play for a draw we don’t play in a negative way, sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, but today we’re pleased that a number of players got on the score sheet. We passed the ball well at times and
played forward at the right times.
PNE will now be hoping that they can finish the season strongly in their last two fixtures of the season as they travel to Tranmere and Wigan.
Preston Manager Nick Harrison said: “We know we’ve got good players, we’ve got players all around the pitch who are capable of scoring and that has been proven today.
“We created lots of chances and it was just that final finish whether it be a cross or a shot, it could have been a lot more and that is no disrespect to Morecambe but we’ve got players that are capable of hurting teams and maybe on another day the score line could have been more.”
Preston got off to the perfect start as they were ahead in less than a minute through Roscoe, whose flick from a cross down the left-hand side looped over Morecambe keeper Andreas Arestidou.
The Lilywhites didn’t have to wait long for a second as Dsane doubled Preston’s lead. Luke Pritchard had the beating of his man and played the ball across the six yard box where it was tapped home by Preston’s number nine.
Things were going from bad to worse for Morecambe as they gifted the hosts a third. The visitors were found guilty of being too casual in possession and as Arestidou panicked he kicked the ball straight at Lunney who deflected the attempted clearance into an empty net.
North End finished the half as they had started it with a goal as Lunney grabbed his second and his sides fourth on the stroke of half-time. Pritchard again had the beating of his man and his cross was met by Lunney who had time to take a touch and dispatch the ball beyond Arestidou on the half volley.
As Preston went into half-time four goals ahead, they came out in the second and were immediately looking for more.
Morecambe were able to keep Preston out for longer in the second half than they did the first, but that was more through the chances that the Whites were missing as they were unable to convert chances into goals.
But Preston were not to be denied in adding to the score line as Boyd created room for himself on the edge of the area before firing the ball across goal and into the corner as Morecambe’s day got worse.
But Preston’s scoring for the day was complete as Morecambe again failed to clear their lines and substitute Lamin Jagne helped the ball onto the Dsane who struck the ball on the turn to thunder in for number six of the afternoon.
Preston nearly had a seventh as Adam James Robinson hit the crossbar with a header in the final few minutes, but Preston had to settle for six just like they had in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Preston were by far and away the better team as they started quickly and continued to push on throughout the game.
While Dsane and Preston could have had more, the Preston forward was delighted with the team performance and to be back scoring goals.
He said: “It was a great performance from us, I think it’s been a while since we’ve played this well, we had a lot of shots against Blackpool and it didn’t seem to be our day, but to get six today it’s been a long time coming.
“It’s more of a relief because I haven’t scored in a while so I’ve ended my goal drought but it’s a team performance so I’m just happy my teammates can set the ball up for me.”
The result was Preston’s last home fixture of the season and Harrison will be glad with how well his side have played at Victory Park this season.
He said: “We always set a challenge for the players to score goals and wins games, we never play for a draw we don’t play in a negative way, sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, but today we’re pleased that a number of players got on the score sheet. We passed the ball well at times and
played forward at the right times.
PNE will now be hoping that they can finish the season strongly in their last two fixtures of the season as they travel to Tranmere and Wigan.