Preston NE Res 0 Blackburn Rovers Res 4

FOUR-GOAL James Beattie handed Rovers an easy Pontin's League victory at Deepdale.

The teenage striker gave a strong Rovers line-up a 1-0- half-time lead, converting Wayne Gill's free kick.

Then the unstoppable Beattie smashed a second half-trick.

Beattie's second arrived in the 65th minute, heading home Damien Duff's cross.

Then Beattie completed a magnificent hat-trick, heading past David Lucas from George Donis's corner.

Per Pedersen provided the ammunition for Beattie in the 81st minute as the forward slid home from close range.

New £300,000 signing, goalkeeper Alan Fettis, made a string of fine saves to deny substitute Stuart King and striker Jonathan Macken.

Rovers: Fettis, Croft, Whealing, Gill, Reed, Broomes, Donis, Johnson, Beattie, Per Pedersen, Duff. Subs: Coughlan, Fitzpatrick, Brown.

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