By Alex Atkinson -
PNEfans.net
Bamber Bridge
0-7 PNE
“Just like watching Brazil” was
the chant ringing around Iron Gate, as North End steamrolled
to victory.
Two doubles from Lewis Neal and Chris Sedgwick,
followed by goals from Dave Hibbert, David Nugent and Danny Dichio.
The Brig never troubled North End, Chris
Neal and Ben Hinchliffe both keeping clean sheets. It was a nice
summers evening, in front of over 2,000 supporters. Lewis Neal
got the ball rolling after 15 minutes. Neal picked the ball up
inside his own half ran at the Brig defence and then cut inside
to smash the ball home.
Lewis Neal was in the tick of the action
again, Dave Hibbert played the ball to the winger. Neal duly
obliged the return pass across the box for Hibbert to tap the
ball home for 2-0. It was 3-0 soon after, Simon Whaley came off
the bench for Joe Anyinsah. Whaley broke the offside trap to
thread a ball to Nugent, who guided the ball into the back of
the net.
North End started to go into cruise control,
Lewis Neal grabbing his second for the night just prior to the
break. Neal and Whaley both had shots blocked before the ball
finally hit the net with a low left footed strike from Neal.
The half time whistle went, 4-0 to the yellows.
Paul Simpson made some changes for the second
half, this being his first visit to Iron Gate. It didn’t
take long for the substitutes to make an impact. Paul McKenna
threaded a ball inside for Agyemang, who laid the ball to Dichio.
The lanky striker hit a first time shot into the bottom right
corner.
Chris Sedgwick, another substitute at half
time went onto wrap up the game for Preston. The winger’s
first goal was a simple tap in from a deflected Dichio header.
Sedgwick’s second goal was a nice volley at the back post
thanks to a Graham Alexander cross.
Over all it was a thoroughly professional
performance from North End, which was certainly monies worth
for the fans. Paul Simpson’s first real test will come
against Champions League outfit Hearts this coming weekend at
Deepdale.
Bamber Bridge's Iron Gate |
0-7
