HOPPERS thrashed National League Three North side Bedford Athletic in their Tetley's Bitter Cup second round game.

Their second half display earned them a trip to Coventry in the next round where they will face a tougher task.

In the opening quarter Hoppers' full back Chris Glynn kicking three penalties to open up a nine point lead. When the visitors finally got their act together a tap penalty close to Hoppers line provided the opportunity for Yugoslav international lock Mihajlovic to claim their first points. Brown converted.

Hoppers' Ged Welsh left the field with a rib injury and, in a period when all the referee's decisions seemed to go the Athletic's way, they took the lead as winger Smith nipped in at the corner.

As half-time approached, Hoppers pounded the Athletic line with the visitor's Alston earning a yellow card for persistent infringement. Hoppers quickly took advantage of their numerical superiority as the pack drove prop Karl Fenton over from a line out. Glynn converted from the touchline. The second half opened with the referee now giving Hoppers the benefit of his decisions. Scrum-half Gallagher became the second Athletic player in the sin bin. The Hoppers pressure produced a number of infringements with a penalty try the outcome.

Josh Williams scored Hoppers third try. Glynn again converted but his fourth conversion attempt bounced back off the crossbar after Russell Flynn had squeezed in at the corner.

Soccer skills produced the fifth try for Iain Bruce with Glynn Dewhurst notching the sixth four minutes from time. Glynn completed an excellent afternoon's kicking by converting both.

Gallagher crossed under the posts late on for the visitors. Williams converted to end the game.

Next Saturday (October 14) Hoppers return to league action with a visit to Grassington to play Wharfedale.

Final score: Preston Grasshoppers 49 Bedford Athletic 19