NORTH End's new £300,000 signing David Reeves partnered Gary Bennett in attack as Preston picked up the elegant Marsden Cup silverware at this week's match against Blackpool which ended 2:1.

Preston looked impressive in the opening stages and it came as no surprise when they went in front.

Kevin Gage was the architect with a neat run down the right and his excellent cross picked out Ian Bryson in the box and he hit an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net.

Blackpool hit back and were unlucky not to equalise when Thorpe's 20 yard drive beat Moilanen, hit the inside of both posts and came back into the arms of the Preston keeper. Blackpool attacked Preston in the second half with Phill Pott looking very sharp and he provided excellent goal scoring opportunities for Preece and Thorpe, but North End survived.

It looked to be all over when Gary Bennett put Preston two up midway through the second half, but Blackpool came storming back with a goal from Craig Allardyce.

That set up a frantic finish as Blackpool, holders of the Marsden Lancashire Cup for the past three years, desperately tried to hang on to it.

Preston stuck to the task amid enormous pressure from the Seasiders and Ian Bryson collected his second trophy for Preston North End in the space of five months.

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