Preston 3 Southport 4
DESPITE controlling most of the match Preston contrived to lose this absorbing contest after defensive lapses in the second half allowed the visitors a lead which they never surrendered.
Two goals by Phil Bowman, including a wonderfully executed reverse stick shot, and a short corner strike by Nick Sutcliffe looked to have earned Preston a notable scalp.
But Southport, inspired by the Australian, Marc Johnson, rallied to secure a narrow victory. He opened the scoring with a low drag flick and Preston struggled to keep up with their slick ball movement until Sam Sinclair and Adam Wilson, got on the ball.
Phil Bowman swivelled in the D before rifling an unstoppable reverse-stick shot into the net.
A short corner that led to the second goal as the ball was moved right to Nick Sutcliffe, who planted the ball under the visitors' keeper Olly Pau. After the interval Southport struck back, Johnson swept the ball over to an unmarked Stuart Ferns and the winger made no mistake from close range.
Preston quickly made amends when Sinclair weaved through two defenders before his shot was parried into path of Bowman, who tucked away his second goal.
Preston returned to form on Sunday to beat Oxton 4-2 with debut boy Carl Sanderson scoring twice and Sam Sinclair and Luke Watson adding the others.
Preston 3 Southport 4
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