Two early goals gave Preston North End victory over Southport in the first game of their pre-season programme.
An own goal from ‘Port centre-half Steve Akrigg and trialist Joel Byrom’s 13th minute penalty wrapped up the win in front of a big PNE following - the visitors made up 1,371 of the 1,916 crowd.
It was new faces aplenty in the North End squad, Graham Westley naming a different side to play in each half as he sought to give the majority of his players a run out.
Trialists Peter Enckelman, Tiago Rosa, Cliff Byrne, Jack King and Byrom were included in the first-half XI.
And the team named for the second half included former Manchester City keeper David Gonzalez, Chris Beardsley and Lee Trundle.
A third goalkeeper on show in addition to Enckelman and Gonzalez was Tony Warner - the former Liverpool and Millwall shot-stopper warmed-up with the squad beforehand.
The first-half performance was better than the second as far as PNE were concerned, with them having more creativity.
North End were in front after five minutes, Keith Keane’s cross from the right-wing headed into his own net by Steve Akrigg.
The lead was doubled in the 13th minute, referee Ian Hussin pointing to the spot after Chris Holroyd was clipped by Louis Barnes.
Byrom - training with PNE after leaving Stevenage - stepped up to calmly roll the penalty left-footed past keeper Matt Nemes.
North End almost broke through again a few minutes later, Graham Cummins’ low shot from 15 yards saved by Nemes at the near post.
Southport began to get back into the game as the half went on, although there was little to trouble Enckelman.
And there were two more chances for PNE as the interval approached.
The first saw Byrom firing wide with a shot on the turn from a David Buchanan pass.
Then a fine ball over the top of the Port defence from Byrom found Keane who had made a late run into the box, the former Luton man’s diving header dropping inches wide.
Southport started the second half the brighter, Gonzalez twice having to tip inswinging corners over the bar.
In the 54th minute, Ross Farran got the end of Alan Moogan’s cross at the far post and headed against the underside of the bar.
John Welsh picked up an ankle knock midway during the second half, with him replaced by former Woking midfielder King who came back on after playing the first half at centre-back.
A shot from home winger Joe Middleton appeared to be tipped over by Gonzalez, but the referee awarded a goalkick.
Jeffrey Monakana should have done better in the 70th minute after making space for himself with a smart piece of footwork on the edge of the box.
But his shot lacked the same care and disappeared high over the bar without troubling the keeper.
Nine minutes from time, John Mousinho was fouled 25 yards out, Trundle’s curling free-kick tipped round the post by Tony McMillan.
Southport: (first-half) Nemes, Smith, Lynch, Akrigg, Barnes, Benjamin, Turner, Ledsham, Almond, Tames, Ellinson (Parry 20).
Southport: (second-half): McMillan, Gervan, Parry, Lever, Eaden, Chalmers, Moogan, Farran, Middleton, Grant, Whalley.
PNE (first-half):Enckelman, Rose, Byrne, King, Buchanan, Keane, Procter, Byrom, Hayhurst, Holroyd, Cummins.
PNE (second-half): Gonzalez, Welsh (King 66), Huntington, Cansdell-Sherriff, Laird, Monakana, Mousinho, Wroe, Holmes, Beardsley, Trundle.
Referee: Ian Hussin
Attendance: 1,916
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