AFTER scoring a last gasp equaliser in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Bowdon the previous week, Mark Fletcher played the hero's role again, this time with a brilliant goal line clearance in the final passage of play to secure three points for Preston.

And it was a timely fillip for the West Cliff based outfit --as if there ever was a game which could be dubbed the proverbial "six pointer" this season, then then this was it.

Preston, after falling a goal behind early in the first half, rallied superbly in the second half to maintain their unbeaten run.

A trip to bottom placed Macclesfield awaits this weekend and if Preston can gather another three points they can sit in a position of power at the top of the table over Christmas. Despite the victory over second-placed Bebington, head coach Colin Sinclair will be alarmed at the number of goals that his side have been leaking in previous weeks. The Preston defence surrendered the lead as early as the fifth minute when Mark Wilkie escaped the attentions of Nicholas Sutcliffe to steer his team into the lead.

With their lead intact Bebington were then content to station men behind the ball in an attempt to thwart Preston's attacking potency.

This strategy blunted the attacking trio of Phil Bowman, Sam Sinclair and Jim Blackburn --that was until Bowman broke free from his shackles to fire home the equaliser with his trademark reverse stick shot just before the half-time whistle.

But Preston's joy was short-lived as Bebington simply replicated their first goal as Wilkie swept the ball home from close range to hand the initiative back to the home side. Preston laboured in pursuit of the second goal and were handed a lifeline when Sinclair was hacked down by a Bebington defender.

Down to ten men the hosts soon lost their shape and subsequently their discipline and the league leaders were quick to capitalise.

Nick Sutcliffe atoned for his earlier error when he pounced from close range following a deflected short corner strike.

Minutes later Sinclair scored the goal of the contest when he cut inside the D and unleashed a breathtaking reverse stick shot past a statuesque goalkeeper.

Preston then added a fourth when Richard Sullivan scored from a penalty corner. Itwas a good job he did as Bebington then managed to scramble home a third goal before Fletcher denied them an equaliser with his timely intervention.

Bebington 3 Preston 4