Knutsford 1 Preston 6

A Phil Bowman inspired Preston consigned lowly Knutsford to a 6-1 defeat on Saturday. The budding scholar from Central Lancashire University opened his league scoring account with four clinical strikes.

This was Preston's third win on the bounce and moves the West Cliff outfit up into second place behind Bebington.

Preston stamped their authority on the game right form the off and it was only the agility of the Knutsford

goalkeeper which prevented an early drubbing.

However, Bowman was soon demonstrating his predatory skills as his angled flick above a horizontal keeper opened the scoring.

Moments later his driving run into the area created the requisite space for him to nutmeg a exposed goalkeeper for his second.

Soon after the interval Bowman increased his tally with a powerful drive through a cluster of players and minutes later he sealed the victory with a cheeky flick past a diving keeper.

And despite Knutsford claiming a consolation goal through some sloppy defending, Preston were quickly back to enhancing their goal difference.

Both Bowman and Sam Sinclair struck the post before Luke Wilson tapped home from close range.

The rout was completed in the final minutes when Richard Sullivan's strike was diverted into the top corner of the net.

HA Trophy 1st round

Lytham St Annes 1 Preston 3

PRESTON clearly enjoy the label of underdogs especially when that tag allows them to progress into the next round of the HA Trophy.

However it was not achieved without a battle against their local rivals Lytham who pushed them to their very limit.

A large crowd gathered keenly anticipating a game of fast, flowing hockey and they were not to be disappointed.

Alas it was the youth and aggression of Preston led by their combative leader Richard Sullivan who triumphed

on the day.

The visitors had a dream start and within the first ten minutes were two goals to the good. First the

slippery Sam Sinclair, who exuded class at centre half, worked his way down the by-line before squaring to debutant Mike Cogley who fired home from close range.

And before Lytham could regain any sembelance of compsure Phil Bowman doubled Preston's lead.

This time it was 14 year old Adam Wilson who after fooling a couple of Lytham defenders rolled the ball back to Bowman who had the simple task of passing the ball into an empty net.

Preston then turned to their defensive qualities to safeguard their lead. When university student Ian

Brown was dismissed for a deliberate foul, Lytham foraged forward at every given opportunity. However, they were denied each time either by the precise tackling of Richard Sullivan or the first class

goaltendering abilities of Simon Eccleston.

And this resolute pairing inspired Preston to their decisive third goal.

Sullivan's accurate long ball found Sam Sinclair who ferried the ball onto Mark Flecther.

And he after his initial shot was parried then volleyed the ball expertly past Daffyd Jones in goal.

Preston were again reduced to ten men following a fracas between the typically aggressive Bowman and Lytham's more genteel Dave Robbins.

Despite their numerical advantage Lytham could only pull one goal back as Preston's unyielding defence stood firm to claim a memorable victory.