The home side made it 1-0 in the 14th minute when a great move involving Eddie Lewis, George Koumantarakis and Paul McKenna who found Graham Alexander on the right wing, and he cut in and fired home from ten yards.
North End made it 2-0 after 25 minutes when Koumantarakis had a shot from the left parried by Lee Grant diving to his left, only for Dickson Etuhu to stroke the rebound in from close range.
Koumantarakis put Preston three up after 39 minutes. Alexander's right-wing cross deflected off Steve Elliott and Grant fumbled leaving the Greek to tap in from six yards.
Richard Cresswell made it four after 51 minutes when McKenna's cross was headed back by Chris Lucketti leaving the former York man with a simple tap in.
Fabrizio Ravanelli pulled one back in the 75th minute when he deflected Craig Burley's mis-hit shot into the net from close range.
The Italian then made it 4-2 with a last minute header.