PRESTON climbed to joint top of the North Premier Division Two following the thrashing of lowly Timperley at West Cliff on Saturday.

And they can thank their mercurial young midfielder Sam Sinclair, who epitomised his undoubted class, with four well taken goals and two other assists.

His contribution in the second half overshadowed a largely forgettable first half as Preston laboured against an uncompromising Timperley defence.

However it was the visitors who silenced an expectant home crowd with a early strike as keeper Simon Eccleston left his legs slightly ajar following a deflected cross into the D.

Despite dominating the rest of the first half Preston found the equalising goal hard to come by. And it was only when the bullish Phil Bowman manufactured some space in the D to fire home did the home team play with any degree of comfort.

With the equilibrium re-established Preston, inspired by Sam Sinclair, soon put paid to Timperley hopes of holding on for a draw.

Preston went in front within minutes with a wonderfully improvised strike by Sinclair at a short corner which completely deceived the visitor's goalkeeper.

Moments later his through ball set up Phil Bowman who after leapfrogging a couple of dubious challenges in the D lashed home his second with a powerful reverse stick shot.

Sinclair extended Preston's lead with a superbly executed drag flick from the top of the D which left the keeper with no chance. Next, Sinclair turned to his creative abilities by setting up young Adam Wilson who turned the ball into a open net. Sinclair then completed his hat-trick following a dynamic run from another of the young pretenders in the side, Phil Rowlands, who turned in his performance of the season. He squared the ball to Sinclair who tapped home from the penalty spot.

With the home crowd baying for more goals Sinclair duly obliged with the most exquisite of strikes. In full flow now Sinclair danced through the Timperley defence and then drew the keeper, before hammering home a reverse stick shot into the opposite corner to delight the already exuberant home crowd.

Preston play host to Macclesfield this Saturday with a 2.15pm push back.

RESULT: Preston 7 Timperley 1