THE second division promotion race slipped into overdrive as North End kept up the pressure with a vintage display of all-out attacking football which destroyed Lincoln 5-0 and sent the fans home singing.

Lincoln were in the match for just 15 minutes, then Steve Basham struck with a goal of individual skill that set the Town End alight.

He took the ball from wide on the right, in towards the box, down went the right shoulder to send two defenders in opposite directions.

Then there followed an explosive finish which ripped into the back of the net leaving John Vaughan helpless to stop it.

Any ideas that Preston would fold after the defeat at Reading were quickly dispelled as North End kept coming forward in wave after wave of attacks and only some desperate defending kept Preston out.

Ludden crossed for Nogan to head goalwards but Vaughan saved well.

Cartwright's corner has headed on by Gray for Gregan to send a flashing header towards the top of the net for Vaughan to again perform heroics.

On-loan Gray then unleashed a powerhouse drive that just cleared the crossbar.

Then Ludden crossed again for Nogan to head over, Ludden again got into the action with a low shot which Vaughan could only push out to Basham and as the Preston striker shot at goal, that man Vaughan made another good save.

Lincoln tried hard to stay in the match and former North End player Terry Fleming was playing well in midfield and Preston had to snuff out the danger.

Preston's pressure told with a second goal on the stroke of half-time.

It was a carbon copy of the first goal as Nogan cut inside to score with a fine shot into the corner of the net and North End were cruising.

Any hopes Lincoln had were quickly cancelled three minutes into the second half when Ludden sent Nogan clear of a static back four and he had the ball beyond Vaughan for another example of clinical finishing and the match was over.

Preston, however, just didn't let up. They stormed the Lincoln goal and the Imps were looking for damage limitation.

Once again, the pressure proved too much for Lincoln as on 68 minutes their defence was dragged all over the place and Basham, with some first-class control, scored a fourth goal of sheer class.

Sean Gregan's 30-yard rocket thumped against the underside of the crossbar, Rankine had a shot blocked and Cartwright made a fine solo run that ended with a fine save from Vaughan.

Holmes and Austin worked hard for Lincoln at the back to try to keep the score at a reasonably respectable level, but they could do nothing to prevent John Macken adding a fifth goal in what was becoming a cakewalk.

North End have now hit 61 league goals already this season, a remarkable performance which keeps the dream of automatic promotion alive.

Oldham come to Deepdale on Saturday as Preston try to complete a double over the Boundary Park side this season.

The confidence is high - now David Moyes and Kelham O'Hanlan must keep the players' minds firmly on the task ahead which will get bigger as the season goes on and the nerve ends start to fray.

So far, it's all quite wonderful and way above the pre-season expectations.

However, much work still has to be done, but these are wonderful days to be a supporter of Preston North End and the fans are loving it all.

Lincoln were destroyed, they came full of confidence after their win at Blackpool on Saturday but, quite simply, Preston were different class and it all could have gone into double figures.

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