Bamber Bridge 0 - 3 Preston North End
Bamber Bridge were beaten 3-0 by Preston North End in the annual Gerry Lawson memorial match at the SFC Stadium on Wednesday evening.
It did not take long for the championship side to get going, Duane Holmes taking aim from the edge of the box but his effort struggling to test the Brig goalkeeper.
The trialist in goal was called into action by Kacper Pasiek whose powerful shot was kept out of the top right-hand corner. Seconds later Brig did well to keep the score level Simon Grand with a goal line clearance to keep out Will Keane.
The visitors would open the scoring in the 23rd minute. Pasiek breaking down the left delivering a low cross to Keane his effort was blocked but the rebound fell to Layton Stewart whose volley sailed into the corner of the net, to open the scoring.
The trialist in goal was called in action again to deny Pasiek the North End player firing a low shot across goal that the Brig number 1 did well to stop.
North End would go on to create two great opportunities before the end of the first forty-five. First Ched Evans with a cutback that left the goal gaping for Stewart who could not get a clean connection on it. The second would fall to Stewart again having beaten the offside trap the forward could not loop his shot over the onrushing keeper before Noah Mawene fired wide from distance.
Ten Minutes into the second half the visitors found a second. Pasiek with a floated free kick to the back post which was headed back across goal by Patrick Bauer and finished of by Ryan Ledson to double the North End goal tally.
Gerry Lawson's family present the trophy to Preston North End's Ben Whiteman.
North end rung the changes an hour into the game, with a third goal almost arriving immediately through Sam Greenwood, but the attacker would be kept out by the frame of Brigs woodwork.
The substitutions continued to create chances for the opposition Theo Mawene firing high and wide from two long range efforts. Third time would be the charm for the young midfielder who unleashed a fantastic curling strike to give Preston a third goal.
Brig would go on to create a good opportunity substitute Bailey Thompson connecting sweetly with a volley which was well kept out by returning goalkeeper James Pradic.
It would be the last chance of a positive friendly for both sides played out in front of a crowd of 1258.
Brig will continue their pre-season with a friendly against Salford City at home on Friday (7:30pm) KO.
Match report: Noah Mills
