MORECAMBE bowed out of the Carabao Cup with defeat at Deepdale.
After going two goals down through goals from Brandon Barker and Louis Moult the Shrimps hit back on the stroke of half time through Liam Mandeville before Graham Burke found the net for North End to give them a 3-1 lead from which Morecambe never recovered.
Manchester City loanee Barker fired North End into a 13th minute lead.
Ledson fed a pass to Barker who collect the ball on the half turn, stepped forward a few paces before finding the bottom corner of the net with a left-foot shot from 20 yards which beat Barry Roche.
It took a fine save from Roche to keep Ledson off the scoreline, the long-serving keeper spreading himself at the near post to block the midfielder's volley - the ball coming to him after Burke's shot had hit a Morecambe foot and spun into his path.
North End doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute, Moult breaking down a Morecambe move in front of the dug outs and moving in field. He exchanged passes with Burke on the outside of him before taking the return pass into the box and steering a low shot across Roche into the far corner.
Morecambe's first effort on the first period saw them reduce the deficit 90 seconds into stoppage-time. Jason Oswell and Huntington contested a high ball just outside the box, it falling into the path of Mandeville who drove a first-time shot past Chris Maxwell.
At the break, Morecambe made a change with AJ Leitch-Smith replacing Alex Keynon.
The Shrimps looked more confident in the early stages of the second period, moving the ball and working the Preston defence far more than they had been doing.
But North End re-established their two-goal cushion in the 58th minute with a well-worked team goal involving four players. Barker made inroads down the left channel and worked the ball to DJ who played in Moult in the box. Moult was forced slightly wide which prevented him shooting, the striker instead squaring it inside to Burke who side-stepped his marker before hammering a shot into the roof of the net from close range.
Morecambe battled to the end with Carlos Mendes-Gomes getting his first taste of first team action but could not find a second goal.
PNE: Maxwell, Woods (Fisher 39), Huntington, Storey, Earl, Ledson, Gallagher, Barker (Harrop 62), Burke, Johnson (Nmecha 84), Moult. Subs (not used): Davies, Robinson, O'Reilly, Rudd.
Morecambe: Roche, Sinclair, Old, Yarney, Conlan, Fleming, Kenyon (Leitch-Smith 46), Mandeville (Ellison 65), Wildig, Oates (Mendes-Gomes 65), Oswell. Subs (not used): Oliver, Jagne, Cranston, Halstead.
Referee: Tom Nield (West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 6,077 (622 away)