Preston took another step towards automatic promotion as they blitzed past a relegation-haunted Notts County with a 3-1 win at Meadow Lane.The Lilywhites had to be patient to make the breakthrough, but it came in the 23rd minute when Jermaine Beckford produced a terrific finish from Joe Garner's pass.Garner then got on the scoresheet himself when he lashed in from inside the six-yard box to take advantage of some shoddy Magpies defending.To their credit, Notts poured forward in search of a way back into the game with Graham Burke twice forcing Sam Johnstone into saves.And their persistence paid off with just under 20 minutes left when Jimmy Spencer scored his first goal of the season with a smart turn and finish.Garry Thompson then wasted a massive chance to make it 2-2 when put through by Liam Noble, but he could only fire at Johnstone's legs.And it proved costly as Beckford netted his second five minutes from time when he raced through to hammer a shot beyond Roy Carroll.