CHORLEY 0 PNE 3

RYAN Kidd's return to form was the highlight of this predictable game, played under menacing skies at Chorley's Victory Park.

His solid defensive performance ensured Preston didn't concede while, up front, first team striker Jon Macken and lesser-known Mark Beasley linked well together, ensuring a comfortable win.

Preston took just 14 minutes to open the scoring, with Macken tucking the ball away to delight the hundreds of fans inside the ground.

A few minutes later, Beasley got in on the act, finding himself in acres of space in front of the Chorley goal. With Simon Marsh stranded, he wasted no time in pushing the ball home.

His second followed just after half-an-hour when he pounced on a flying cross from Paul Mckenna and struck the ball with real force to send PNE 3-0 up.

There would have been more goals for PNE, but the management team took the opportunity to try out some of the new players, including Rob Edwards, who came on for Sean Gregan.

New signing Adam Eaton played a solid match on the left wing, and obviously likes to get forward, while Frenchman Farid Diaf also looked comfortable alongside Gregan.

Tepi Moilanen, playing his first game since returning form injury, soon settled into the routine after a few scares, which could mean a fight for the No 1 jersey when the new season starts.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.