North End, wearing their new red strip for the first time, made it two wins in two after seeing off Northern Premier side Bamber Bridge at Iron Gate.
Despite dominating the possession in the opening exchanges, it took Preston until the 26th minute to break the deadlock. After being put through by strike partner Proctor on the break,Jon Parkin slotted the ball in the bottom left-hand corner of the Bamber Bridge goal to round off a good move from North End.
Preston's second came from an unlikely source in defender Neal Trotman. The former Oldham centre-back will have been pleased just to have got a run out after an injury plagued 2008/2009 season but instead managed to get himself on the score sheet. The athletic centre-half got on the end of a Michael Hart cross after Jamie Proctor tried to turn the ball in himself; 2-0 and Preston in total control heading into the interval.
Just five minutes after half-time and Bamber Bridge were back in it. Ironically it was Preston North End employee Phil Eastwood who brought Brig back in it with a spectacular curling shot. Following an intricate turn on the edge of the box, the former Burnley man lobbed Andrew Lonergan in the Preston goal to stun the Iron Gate crowd.
However, North End restored their two goal advantage on the hour mark through youngster Jamie Proctor. Michael Hart provided his second assist of the match by threading through a low ball into the box towards Danny Mayor. Mayor scuffed his shot and it landed to Proctor instead who had the simple task of converting into an open net.
Defender Tom Smythe completed the scoring on the 63rd minute with an excellent volley from a Danny Mayor cross.
All eyes were on youngster Danny Mayor who has been touted as the next hot prospect from the North End youth setup to make leap to senior level. The right winger had a solid game and showed some good touches but it was Jamie Proctor who stole the show for the youth players involved.
The striker showed he had good feet and a good footballing brain whilst at all times knowing where the goal was. His goal capped off an excellent performance and if it wasn't for the guile and drive of Richard Chaplow, it would be him that would be awarded the PNE-mad man of the match.
Michael Hart had a good game too and was industrious throughout, making countless runs down the right. Richard Chaplow was instrumental in midfield with everything Preston did seemingly through him.
On the contrary, striker Jon Parkin was quiet apart from his goal and played relatively deep whilst Andrew Lonergan had very little to do other than pick the ball out of the net once.
Bamber Bridge: M Hale(A Banks 73), J Heywood, L Pryers, P Robinson (S Danson 58), C McAllister, M Moran, S Oldfield, N Reynolds, P Denney, P Eastwood, A Dunn. Subs: S O'Neil, J Rawcliffe, J Cowell, S Farrow.
Preston: A Lonergan, M Hart, N Trotman, T Smythe (P Quirk 64), E Nolan, D Mayor, R Chaplow, P McKenna, R Wallace, J Proctor (Miller 71).
Referee: Neil Swarbrick.