PRESTON College's football stars returned home from America this week after battling it out in the Arizona desert in the 20th Annual President's Day Tournament, which saw our lads against the cream of the crop of America's junior soccer stars.

Here we report on their last few games, revealing that they did much to restore England's battered footballing pride.

Citizen sports reporter David Higgerson and Preston College's Allistair Short bring you up to date: Real Preston 1 Legends Green 2

Legends dominated the first half and took the lead on 16 minutes. Within five minutes of the restart Legends scored again after some good work down the right of the Real defence. The second goal pushed Real into action but it wasn't until the second half that they broke down Legends' defence.

After Real's skipper David Rhodes was stretched off the pitch - which caused the game to be stopped for 15 minutes - birthday boy Richard Harding scored after weaving through the defence.

Real looked as if they could pull level until the referee blew time - 10 minutes early. Apparently, there is no such thing as injury time.

Real Preston 0 San Juan Arsenal 6

Real were denied the services of two of their more influential players in Zubai Patel and skipper Rhodes. Arsenal raced into a 3-0 lead and as the Californians turned the screw in the heat,0 Real were just no match for them. What has to be said was that despite the heat and physical tiredness, the Preston players never at any stage rolled over.

Athletico Preston 2 Cruz Azul 1

Athletico continued their march to the final with their third win in succession against a strong Mexican outfit. The opening goal of the game came early for Athletico as Peter Sallis skinned the Cruz left-back and crossed for Phil Simpson to crash home.

The Cruz team scored an equalizer on the hour to put themselves back in the game. Taking heart from this goal Cruz piled forward forcing keeper Billy Englishby into making two outstanding saves.

With five minutes left, and the competition seemingly slipping away, striker Ged Smith, 16, beat two defenders on a 40 yard run and scored the goal which kept Preston on course for a third final in four years.

Real Preston 4 Nougalis Thunder 1

Real skipper David Rhodes overcame two horrific injuries to return for this, the final game and scored a 15 minute hat-trick in the second half.

The Preston team suffered the toughest schedule in the tournament with four games within a 29-hour period.

The Barmy Army were silenced on 17 minutes when Nougalis raced away and beat Real'keeper Tom Towers from 20 yards.

Real pulled one back through Richard Powell to make the scores level at half-time.

In a matter of minutes the skipper rammed in his first with a sweet left foot drive, quickly followed by his second and third. Their tournament had ended on a high.

Atletico Preston 7 Warriors 1

Atletico reached the final of the 20th President's Day Tournament after emphatically sticking seven past Warriers of Colorado. It took just five minutes for Matt Abbot to open the scoring. The central defender brushed aside the defenders at a corner and slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

Atletico dominated the whole game and many players could be rested ready for the next day's final. Ged Smith scored his second goal in two games with a sublime chip from 20 yards before Stuart Booth and Peter Saliss effectively put the game beyond the team from Colorado. Phil Simpson (2) and Simon Stevens completed the route.

San Juan Arsenal 4 Preston Atletico 0

Atletico's attempt to win their fourth championship in five years ended in disappointment as they were well beaten by an excellent Californian side.

A quick break by SJA led to their opening goal. Preston tried to force the pace of the game in the second half but two quick goals within 10 minutes effectively decided the result.

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