IT'S a case of so far, so good for Accrington Stanley's pre-season campaign.

The Reds were narrowly beaten by a strong Preston North End line-up last night. But assistant manager Jimmy Bell insisted he and boss John Coleman were pleased with their side's progress ahead of their third Conference season.

"It was a very good performance last night. We're gradually getting there," he said.

"I think we gave Preston a bit too much respect in the first five or 10 minutes, but after that we were much more comfortable on the ball and we got better as the game went on.

"It was a disappointing goal that they scored but, apart from that, I don't think they threatened us too much."

And Bell, who said a deal to make trialist goalkeeper Stuart Jones a permanent signing could soon be struck - despite the former Doncaster stopper not featuring last night, hailed the contributions of other players on trial.

"A few of the trialists did all right last night, like Alex Hay, and Ian Latham did quite well at left back," he said.

"In the next week or two we will have to make decisions on them all."

Last night's performance will surely have gone some way to making the management team's minds up, even though it wasn't until the midway point in the first half that either side got in their flow.

Preston's Richard Cresswell was the first to have a shot at goal, but goalkeeper Danny Alcock was up to the task as he pushed out the striker's fierce shot across goal.

It took a while for Stanley to respond as Gary Roberts rolled a low shot straight at Carlo Nash.

In the meantime, the Reds had succeeded in keeping a decent attacking line-up quiet. But they wll have been disappointed with the manner in which they conceded the only goal of the game - one of the few occasions that Alcock was put under pressure.

After Cresswell had just missed the post from a chance rebound, Brian O'Neil rose unmarked to nod ex-Rovers defender Callum Davidson's cross beyond Alcock to put the Championship side in front.

Stanley responded almost immediately with the help of Steve Jagielka. The former Shrewsbury wide man - operating from the unfamiliar position of right back - burst forward and sent in a decent, high centre.

Paul Mullin was being well marshalled by Marlon Broomes, and while he rose well, the ball didn't drop in time for him to execute a powerful header.

Roberts was then cynically brought down by Tyrone Mears, but Ian Craney bent the free kick wide of the far post.

Former Tranmere striker Hay continued to impress on his trial but dragged a snapshot wide.

Stanley had been utilising both flanks will going forward, with Jagielka bursting through in support of David Brown, who had been handed a wide right role. And it was through a similar manoeuvre that Craney struck a firm volley that crashed off the back of Davidson in the last real attack of the half.

As is often the case in pre-season games, the second half was more disjointed, with Preston fielding a younger, more inexperienced side after the break, while Stanley made changes at regular intervals to preserve players' legs for tonight's meeting with neighbours Burnley.

Craney, however, maintained his eye for goal and went close with a couple of trademark long range efforts.

Roberts also had a low drive smothered by Nash and Hay had a header kept out, while neither Alcock or substitute stopper Peter Collinge were really tested in the second half.