PNE progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 victory over League Two side Mansfield Town.
The Lilywhites headed into half-time with a one-goal lead courtesy of Scott Sinclair’s opener just before the break.
North End then took the game away from the hosts in the second half, as substitute Emil Riis doubled the lead and Sinclair got his second of the game.
One of seven changes to Frankie McAvoy’s line-up from the weekend saw Daniel Iversen start and he was tested early, with Rhys Oates taking on an effort inside three minutes, but the Dane kept it out diving to his left.
North End had a big chance 13 minutes into the game, as a lovely pass by Maguire sent Sinclair into the area and he was frustrated by goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, who saved well with his legs.
While still a competitive game, chances over the next 20 minutes or so were at a premium, with Brad Potts sending a speculative effort over the bar from 30 yards before Jordan Storey then saw his header comfortably caught by the ‘keeper.
Rhys Oates then came close for the Stags on 36 minutes, with the forward showing nice feet to make space for himself, but he sent his effort across goal and wide.
Just a few moments after Iversen was required to keep out Ryan Stirk’s effort at one end, North End went down the other to open the scoring. Maguire sent Sinclair through on goal and, despite looking like the angle was against him, Scotty chipped the ball over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net.
The two sides came out unchanged after half-time and most of the football was being played in the middle of the pitch, with North End managing to keep the ball for large periods, prompting ‘oles’ from the away end.
PNE were forced to do some defending on 63 minutes, though, as Jordan Storey made sure a dangerous cross into the near post from the right didn’t find Bowery just six yards out.
Just short of ten minutes later, the Lilywhites doubled their lead courtesy of Riis, who picked up the pieces after Sinclair saw his effort excellently saved following a poor goal-kick from the ‘keeper. His parry came out into a dangerous area and, after working hard to pinch the ball from the defender, the Dane superbly found the top corner.
North End almost had a phenomenal third soon afterwards, with Potts seeing his audacious scissor kick smash against the post.
They weren’t made to wait too much longer for that third, though, as Ben Whiteman fed Sinclair with a superb pass into the box and the forward showed his class to take the ball in, turn and calmly slot home to seal the win.
There was then chance for Frankie McAvoy to hand Joe Rodwell-Grant his senior debut for his boyhood club, while Jamie Thomas made his competitive bow for his new side.
PNE line-up: Iversen; Storey, Bauer, Hughes; van den Berg, Whiteman, Johnson, Potts (Thomas, 83), Cunningham; Maguire (Riis, 67), Sinclair (Rodwell-Grant, 82).
Subs not used: Ripley, Harrop, Rafferty, Earl.
Mansfield line-up: Bishop; Gordon, Rawson, McLaughlin, Burke; Clarke (Johnson, 80), Maris (Law, 74), Stirk, Lapslie; Oates (Sinclair, 65), Bowery.
Subs not used: Shelvey, Hawkins, Perch, Clarke.
Attendance: 2,526 (486 PNE fans)
Referee: Mr R Joyce