Three goals in the first 10 minutes ensured that Preston reserves cruised to a 3-1 victory against Tranmere Rovers at Deepdale.

A Karl Hawley brace and Lewis Neal tap-in continued the reserves' good start to the Division One West campaign.

Matt Hill captained a youthful looking reserve team with Chris Neal displaying a solid performance in goal.

However Neal could only stand back and watch in awe as his team mates took apart their mid-table counterparts.

PNE were quick out of the blocks and took the lead within the first five minutes after Nathan Fairhurst delivered a low corner to the front post and Hawley ran across his defender to cleverly flick the ball past Tranmere goalkeeper John Achterberg.

The game was only eight minutes old when Preston doubled their lead through Lewis Neal. Danny Mayor found space down the right hand side and slid the ball into Ashley Higgins. Higgins had two point blank efforts saved brilliantly by Achterberg but the ball fell kindly for Neal who had the easy job of tapping it in.

Tranmere were clearly shell shocked from the early barrage from Preston and a minute later they were seemingly down and out after Karl Hawley's shot was deflected off Tranmere defender John Mullin, sending Achterberg the wrong way.

There was hope for the away team though when they managed to pull a goal back in the 11th minute after good work down the left wing by Craig Curran which allowed Terry Gornell to finish off a good move.

After such an epic opening ten minutes, the game started to settle with only half chances being conjured up by both sides. Preston goalkeeper Chris Neal was called upon a few times in the first half and dealt with everything that was thrown at him. Lewis Neal continued to threaten and was chopped down just before half time by Tranmere defender Danny Holmes which resulted in Holmes being booked.

The second half started steadier with Preston continuing to play the ball around comfortably. PNE's first clear cut chance of the second half came in 53rd minute after Hawley fed Higgins who beat the offside trap and forced a good save out of Achterberg.

But to the relief of experienced goalkeeper John Achterberg, the Lilywhites didn't threaten his goal in the first ten minutes of the second half like they did in the first.

Chances were few and far between in the second half with a Phil Appiah header almost catching Achterberg out.

Appiah was replaced after suffering a slight knock but it didn't look too serious. The enforced change encouraged coach Billy Barr to experiment with a few of the less experienced scholars given a run as Preston were happy to see the game out.

All in all, the 3-1 win was a good way to head into next Wednesday's final reserve game of the calendar year away to rivals Blackpool.

PNE: Chris Neal, Dylan Adams, Matthew Hill (sub Mike Aspin 68), Phil Appiah (sub Thomas McMahon 59), Mark Bloxam, Dominic Collins, Danny Mayor, Nathan Fairhurst, Ashley Higgins, Karl Hawley, Lewis Neal (sub Matty Mainwaring 74). Subs not used: Chris Thompson, Michael Conchie.

Tranmere Rovers: John Achterberg, Danny Holmes, Tom Beahon, John Mullin, Ryan Mitchell, Paul Henry, Jason Ward, Adnan Ahmed, Craig Curran, Terry Gornell, Mike Jones. Subs: Josh Macauley, Shane McWeeney, Mike Blundell, Louis Corrigan, Danny Moran.

By Treve Whitford