An excellent performance from Preston saw them demolish Bury at Springfields to claim a third straight league victory.

The game was totally dominated by North End from start to finish with quick, flowing, easy-on-the-eye passing on display.

A 4-3-3 formation meant that Preston could control the middle of the park with their midfield trio, who all looked extremely comfortable on the ball right from the off.

The first goal came in the 40^th minute when Adam Barton powered in a header from ten yards after a cross from the right. But the second didn't arrive until five minutes from time when a great move resulted in Danny Mayor blasting the ball home left footed from six yards.

The game started well for Preston and they should have scored only six minutes in when Ryan McGreevy put a low cross in from the right and Neil Dougan skied the ball over the cross bar from close range.

Four minutes later Preston could have scored again when Adam Barton hit the post after picking up the ball 25 yards out and drilling a low, left-footed shot past the goalkeeper's dive.

Another chance for North End came just three minutes later after a free-kick from the right was only half cleared by Bury and centre back Dominic Collins hit a powerful volley from ten yards that was saved by goalkeeper Danny Fradd.

Bury managed to weather this storm of Preston attacks and calm the game down until the 27^th minute when Neil Dougan laid the ball off to the left for full-back Sam Hart to whip in a teasing cross that was glanced wide by Ryan McGreevy.

Three minutes later another excellent passing move by Preston resulted in left-back Hart again putting in a good cross that was well claimed by goalkeeper Fradd, but the pressure was building and it could be sensed that a goal was around the corner.

The Lilywhites came close again on 35 minutes when Danny Mayor put in a deep cross from the right and Ryan McGreevy sent a seemingly innocuous header looping in the air before it came down and struck the top of the crossbar.

Frustration for the home side could be sensed again on 39 minutes when Neil Dougan cut back the ball from the by-line towards McGreevy only for it to roll harmlessly away after being inches too far in front of the hard-working centre forward.

But the breakthrough finally came one minute later when Adam Barton played a precise pass down the right to Ryan McGreevy, who whipped in a cross right into the path of an excellent 30-yard run by Barton. The central midfield player couldn't miss and powered the ball in with his head from ten yards to give his team a half time lead.

The second half started much as the first had ended when a fine passing move involving the midfield trio of goal scorer Barton, George Miller and Thomas McMahon resulted in a corner that was whipped in dangerously by Sam Hart but scrambled into the 'keeper's arms.

Another great move by North End on 51 minutes created yet another chance - Adam Barton played an excellent pass inside centre-half and right-back to Danny Mayor, who cut inside and shot just over from the edge of the penalty area.

Bury finally made an attempt to score after 55 minutes when captain Kevin Fields took a free kick from 25 yards out and forced goalkeeper Jack Cudworth to make a good save down to his right.

That would be the end of Bury's threat though as the home side continued to search for a second goal that would put the game to bed. The Lilywhites almost did just that on 66 minutes when George Miller had a goal disallowed for offside.

Ryan McGreevy almost got his reward for a hard-working performance on 74 minutes when he played a neat one-two with substitute Jamie Proctor, cut inside and struck a low left footed shot from 18 yards that was saved by goalkeeper Danny Fradd.

The second goal came at last for North End in the 85^th minute when Danny Mayor dribbled inside from the right and played it back outside where Thomas McMahon was driving forward, McMahon got to the by-line and pulled back an excellent cross into the six yard area where Mayor blasted it home left footed.

Adam Barton could have made it 3-0 before the final whistle but the score stayed the same and Preston went away delighted with their performance.

Team coach Jamie Hoyland said after the game that it was a good team performance and he was especially pleased with how his team played in the first half.

He added: "Our performance as a team was excellent and really pleasing, everybody looked comfortable on the ball and passed it round well.

"The first goal especially was excellent. Adam [Barton] scored one just like it on Monday and I'm really pleased for him.

"I'm not too disappointed that we didn't score more. I asked for more shots at half time, and that's what I got

Goalscorer and central midfielder Adam Barton said: "I think I did alright today. I'm a bit tired but we played at a good tempo, and that's really pleasing.

"I'm pleased with my goal, it was a good team goal and was from a great cross, which is what made the goal."

The Lilywhites will look to continue their good league form of late when they go to second from bottom Rochdale on Monday.

PNE: Cudworth, Arran Barton, Hart, Collins, Smyth (capt), McMahon, Miller (Owen 72), Adam Barton, Mayor, Dougan (J Proctor 64), McGreevy. Unused Subs: B Proctor, Quirk.

Bury: Fradd, Barrow, Pugh, Haynes, Charnley, Jones (Tannahill 60), McCarthy, Fields (capt), Steele, Tosum, Rothwell (McGonigle 60). Unused Subs: Patel, Lee, Dorney.

By Michael Glover