North End's second string got their first away win of the campaign at The Racecourse Ground.

Two goals a-piece from Neil Mellor and Brett Ormerod did the damage for Billy Barr's side, Simon Whaley added a fifth in a torrential downpour in North Wales.

North End went 1-0 up after just ten minutes through Neil Mellor, the ball got played through the middle of the pitch and it was a great finish on the edge of the box, a typical Mellor finish, side-footed with power from the edge of the box.

Wrexham equalised just before the break and then took the lead against the run of play just after half-time but North End got back on level terms when Brett Ormerod equalised. It came after a decent cross was swung in from the left and Jason Jarrett laid it off to Ormerod who his found the back of the net from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later and Preston were behind again, sloppy defending allowing the Wrexham man the opportunity to score.

But the goals kept coming and great football from Billy Barr's side saw the ball end up on the edge of the box and Mellor once again took one touch, spun and hit it through the keeper.

The Lilywhites took the lead mid-way through the second half when Danny Mayor picked up the ball in the right-back area and played a ball over the top of the static Wrexham defence, Brett Ormerod did brilliantly to chase the ball down, control it and loft it over the keeper all in one movement, the ball bounced over the line despite a valiant attempt by the covering Wrexham defender.

The fifth goal was made by Danny Mayor, the Wrexham left-back made an attempted back pass but Mayor beat the keeper to the ball, danced around him and squared the ball to Simon Whaley who took two touches before slamming the ball into the empty net.

After the game Billy Barr said: "As an attacking force we have probably had as many chances tonight as we have had in most games, obviously we have scored more than we have in other games but we can't keep conceding goals, we have got to get into a habit of being ruthless and getting clean sheets. We want clean sheets and on top of that we want goals but it's job done as a result and it breaks the hoodoo of the away form so as an attacking force they have done well."

PNE: Chris Neal, Dylan Adams (Thomas McMahon 87), Danny Pugh, Mark Bloxham, Sean St. Ledger (c), Jason Jarrett, Simon Whaley, Nathan Fairhurst, Brett Ormerod, Neil Mellor, Matty Mainwaring (Danny Mayor 69). Unused Subs: Chris Thompson, Aaron McCarthy, Dominic Collins.