FORGET the score line, for in no way does it reflect the pattern of Saturday's match.

I'm not suggesting North End should have won, but they should have enjoyed a share of the spoils.

Furthermore, Preston were victims of a failed penalty claim.

After just ten minutes, Preston striker David Healy was sent clear of the Everton defence looking certain to open the scoring.

Indeed he would have had the Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard not come racing out to the edge of the penalty area to meet Healy.

Gerrard, lunged at the Preston man sending him spinning in the air until he came down in a crumpled mess requiring several minutes of treatment from Mick Rathbone to bring him round.

It was a sending off offence, but the referee did no more than talk to the Everton keeper.

Everton brought a glittering array of expensive talent to Deepdale, but it was North End who dominated the first half.

Michael Jackson went close to putting Preston in front when he got his head to a corner kick only to watch the ball shave the post with Gerrard beaten.

Paul McKenna went close and David Healy wasted a good chance with a free kick from the edge of the box.

Tepi Moilanen came to North End's rescue with a brilliant save from Duncan Ferguson. Watson put in a fine cross from out on the right leaving the Scot with a free header at goal from eight yards.

The Everton fans rose to cheer a goal and would have done so had not Moilanen clawed the header out from under the crossbar in spectacular style.

It was goal-less at half time and in the rotation of the goalkeepers, David Lucas came on for Molianen sat the start of the second half.

It had nothing to do with Lucas, but a four minute lapse of concentration in the Preston defence gifted Everton two goals.

First, no one picked up Joe-Max Moore free on the right of goal and he hammered the ball between Lucas and the near post. Moments later David Unsworth was unmarked on the edge of the area and swept Everton into a 2-0 lead.

Everton got a third goal, the best of the match, when Kevin Campbell rose to send a brilliant header powering beyond Lucas.

Preston never gave up and battled for some consolation

It came with an excellent strike from Rob Edwards eight minutes from time. His stunning volley was in the net behind Gerrard while the Everton goalkeeper was making elaborate efforts to keep it out.

It was a fine performance by Preston as part of their pre-season preparations for the big kick off and against such talented opposition from the Premiership they will be pleased.

It should also go on record that during the summer, the Preston ground staff have produced one, if not the, best playing surface in the country.

Manager David Moyes said: "Everton had that extra bit of guile and class about them, but my players will only benefit from stepping up in class against Premiership teams."