Preston are now joint-top - sandwiched between leaders Ben Rhydding by goal difference and third-placed Kingston-Upon-Hull whom they entertain next Saturday. Saturday's game saw an end-to-end start to the game as Preston wrestled to gain control of the midfield area. With Timperley playing a high-pressing, aggressive game, Preston were content to soak up the pressure and hit the home team on the counter. This policy paid off. First, Sam Sinclair, playing with energy and purpose at the top of the diamond, picked up a superb through ball from Tony Metcalf before lashing in a powerful opener. Then, Cock took control of a botched penalty corner before slipping it past an on rushing defender and smashing in the second low beyond the sprawling goal keeper 2-0 at half-time and in control. Preston then played their most devastating period of hockey in the 15 minutes after the interval as they took advantage of the space afforded to them. Preston's third was a training ground classic. Sinclair darting across the D before sliding in a pin-point cross which Owen Fletcher expertly guided into the roof of the goal. Then Metcalf, a powerful presence in deep midfield, burst forward, shrugging off several weak challenges, before veering to the left of the D and powering in an unstoppable reverse stick drive which had bounced out of the onion bag before the keeper could even react. By now, Preston were on fire. Right half, David Sullivan, marauded down the right, winning a penalty stroke, after he rounded the keeper and saw his shot blocked by a Timperley head on the line. Sinclair made no mistake with a cool stroke to make it 5-0 secure his side's three points. Timperley responded with a well-worked penalty corner and then a scrappy finish before Cock applied the icing to the cake with a great pick up and finish from the top of the D after the keeper had committed himself. Dave Scanlon, 1st XI head coach, commented: "This was another good win for us which extends our unbeaten run to 11 games now from our first pre-season run-out. It's vital we continue this winning streak whilst working hard to elicit further improvements in all facets of our game. "This weekend is going to be great as we face Hull in the league and then Ben Rhydding in the HA Cup on Sunday." - On Sunday, Preston dispatched Urmston 3-1 in the 1st round of the Lancashire Cup. A scrappy game was decided by goals from Carl Sanderson, Tony Metcalf and Owen Fletcher. Preston meet Bolton in the 2nd round.
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