The Seasiders reserves were thumped 4-1 on Monday after against top of the table Preston North End.

The hosts took the lead with two goals in the opening five minutes the first saw a well worked move finished off by former Bury man Simon Whaley, the second saw Whaley's shot from the edge of the area take a wicked deflection off Jamie Burns although the talented winger later claimed the goal. Pool were then forced into a change when Sean Clancy suffered a dead leg, and with no defensive cover on the bench midfielder Jon Goulding was asked to partner first year scholar Dane Matthews in the heart of the Tangerines defence.

Mark Jackson all but ended the contest on the quarter hour when he fired home after the impressive Dave Hibbert dispossessed the Pool defence on the half way line.

The hosts continued to dominate the game and the Seasiders were indebted to a number of outstanding saves from Les Pogliacomi , the big Aussie produced a series of great stops to ensure the scoreline did not resemble that of a cricket score.

Steve Thompson's men did however manage to pull one back before the break when Simon Wiles curled a great effort into the top corner from the edge of the area.

On the stroke of half time Pool almost pulled back a second when Scott Vernon fired just wide.

Preston began the second half in the same manner as they began the first and they soon made it 4-1 when Whaley latched on to a quick free kick from Brian Stock to seal a hat trick on his debut.

Pool who were now without Dane Matthews through injury continued to battle but there was no way back and the points remained at the wrong end of the M55.

Pool: Pogliacomi, Warrender, Clancy (Goulding 5), Matthews (Bagdagi 75), Burns, Shaw, Fox (Perry-Acton 65), Kay, Vernon, Paterson.