Game 1 Seaside delight

A chilly and windy Haig Avenue in Southport heralded the started of Preston's 2012/13, after a summer of change at Deepdale the starting XI bore little resemblance to the side that finished the last league season. A decent crowd of about 1500 mostly Preston fans who had made the short journey down the coast.
The new look side started well and were two up within 15 minutes, the first from a Keane cross was majestically headed home by a Southport defender. (0-1)
The 2nd came from a Byron penalty after Holroyd had been brought down. By the time Byron was approaching the goal the keeper had virtually dived leaving Byron to tuck the ball down the centre (0-2)
North End dominated the half with the home side rarely threatening, Keane was unlucky not to add a third following a delightful move involving Tiago and Byron.
Half time arrived and North End changed all 11 players and the early stages of the 2nd half were dominated by Southport they were unlucky twice hitting the bar, but once the North End change side settled down Gonzalez in the Preston goal had little to do, to be honest neither did the Southport keeper apart a save from a Trundle free kick.
Counts fdor nothing in the grand scheme of things but a useful work out.

Southport 0 Preston North End 2 Att 1500