Parkin, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, plundered two goals but Taylor stuck to his task doggedly and can expect further practice at playing centre-back during the remainder of the summer programme.

Preston keeper Andrew Lonergan was kept busy during the opening quarter hour so it was a genuine surprise when Preston took the lead from their first coherent attack.

Tranmere were undone by full-back Billy Jones’s run into the box and a short pass gave Parkin the chance to drive a rising shot into the top corner of the net.

The equaliser on 31 minutes was well worked. Chris Shuker sent Mahon breaking down the left to swing a low cross to the far post. Ian Moore’s decoy run took defenders away and Terry Gornell was unmarked to score.

There wasn’t much Collister could do about Preston’s second goal on 51 minutes, knocked in at close range by Parkin from a pass by Brown.

The usual pre-season flurry of substitutions broke up the cohesion of both teams’ play in the second-half. Craig Curran, a replacement for Gornell, missed fleeting chance to put Tranmere level by firing above the angle after running onto a pass from substitute Mark Allott.

Taylor looked justifiably aggrieved when referee Moss called his challenge on Mellor a foul and pointed to the spot two minutes from time. The tall defender was the first to congratulate Collister after Mellor’s kick was pushed away and Michael Hart lifted the rebound over the bar.