A CLASSIC hat-trick from Bjarki Gunnlaugsson keeps North End on the Wembley trail in a 4-1 win over Wrexham in the Auto Windscreen Shield.

Without Gregan, Eyres, Jackson and Rankine, Preston had the match all but over after just two minutes with goals from Gunnlaugsson and Edwards.

North End went in front after 59 seconds when Graham Alexander released Alex Mathie down the right of the box and he played in a fine low ball which Gunnlaugsson had in the bottom corner of the net in a flash.

With the Preston fans still applauding that goal North End got another.

Again Alexander was the provider with a corner kick struck to perfection and when the ball ran into the path of Rob Edwards he had the ball beyond Walsh and the Preston fans loved it.

Wrexham rallied and Morrell hit in a powerful 25-yard drive but Moilanen was equal to it.

On 20 minutes Preston added a third when Gunnlaugsson took advantage of some poor defending by Wrexham to storm into the box and beat Walsh with a fine shot in an excellent piece of finishing.

Wrexham got back into the match when Falconbridge was allowed space in the box and his powerful shot left Moilanen helpless.

Wrexham's hopes were dashed, however, on the hour when Gareth Owen brought down Gunnlaugsson on the edge of the box as he was clear on goal and the referee sent him off.

Gunnlaugsson completed his hat-trick on 75 minutes when Wrexham failed to clear a fine Preston move and Adam Eaton's low cross into the six-yard box was touched in by the Preston striker to enormous cheers from the terraces.

With eight minutes remaining, Preston were reduced to ten men also when Brian Barry-Murphy was sent off for a second bookable offence but by then, it didn't matter.

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