IT was a mark of the progress made by this young side that Preston pushed National League Formby to the very wire but also that they were bitterly disappointed not to have beaten them.

By paying scant regard to the disparity in playing standards, Preston attacked their Merseyside counterparts with vigour but were stung by a penalty stroke decision.

Preston opened the game with a hunger which has embodied their season so far. Sam Sinclair combined well with Phil Bowman to distribute the ball around at pace and found willing runners in Adam Wilson and James Blackburn upfront.

Wilson, although suffering from an overnight illness, troubled the home defence with his subtle changes of pace and deft turns which in turn immediately won two short corners.

The first of which saw Bowman have a goal disallowed but he returned just moments later to stun the expectant home crowd. The lithe forward shrugged off the presence of Barry Crichton before slipping the ball under the oncoming Matthew Robinson.

And Preston remained the equals of the National League outfit until Bowman questioned the wisdom of the umpire and was ordered to the sin bin.

Formby seized the opportunity to make good their numerical advantage as Phil Capper launched a drag flick of immense power and accuracy past Simon Eccleston.

Before any sembelance of order could be restored Capper struck again as he outpaced Luke Wilson down the left before firing in a cross which was deflected into his own goal by Ian Brown.

At 2-1 Formby were expected to complete the obligatory hammering of lower league opposition. However, Preston are no easy meat and they found an equalising goal shortly before the interval.

Bowman, rejuvenated from his enforced 'rest', then let his stick do the talking as he collected a square pass from Sullivan before slotting the ball past Robinson.

With the equilibrium restored, Preston went in pursuit of the winning goal which would put them into their first Lancashire Cup final since 1988.

But within minutes of the re-start Formby were awarded a penalty stroke after Mark Fletcher had accidentally used his foot to stop a goal-bound shot.

Phil Capper sent his flick under the arm of an outstretched Eccleston.

Despite their mounting pressure, Preston could not find any reply.

Lancashire Cup semi-final: Formby 3 Preston 2