HUMILIATIONS do not come much more complete than this.

From the first minute to the last Swindon Town were schooled by a Preston team with bags of experience and, in Jermaine Beckford, the outstanding player on the pitch.

In the defeat at Deepdale last month it was explained as men against boys. With the men back in, Town still played like boys.

In many respects, compared to Preston, Swindon were very wet behind the ears. Jack Stephens, Harry Toffolo and Jordan Turnbull are a schoolboy choir compared to Tom Clarke, Bailey Wright and Paul Huntington.

After Beckford scored within a couple of minutes there was no surprise when he completed his hat-trick within the hour.

With Town captain Nathan Thompson stretchered off, having apparently suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury in trying to stop Beckford’s first, Swindon could not have attempted to scale a bigger mountain.

It was a challenge they never rose to.

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Ben Gladwin is consoled by Sam Ricketts at the final whistle

Mark Cooper’s side has a lot of quality players, but none showed up on the day it counted most. The closest anyone in red came to a performance of note was Nathan Byrne.

Though Beckford’s goals made the big difference, it was Huntington’s close-range effort to double the lead that was the most dispiriting.

The centre-back was left free to roam in the six-yard box and score with such ease it’s doubtful the player could believe it himself.

As Preston’s fans cheered every last raising of the League One play-off final trophy, Town fans emptied north London with their tails between their legs and cursing the day they placed faith in their team.

They should not despair too much. Yesterday may have been dispiriting, but it should not be forgotten how well they had done to get this far.

The day all started with a big positive. On the announcement of the teams at Wembley spirits were lifted in the Wiltshire contingent at the inclusion of captain Thompson.

The skipper was a doubt with a grade two hamstring tear picked up in the semi-final second leg against Sheffield United, but made a remarkable recovery to start.

There were two changes from the clash with the Blades; Toffolo in for Sam Ricketts and Jonathan Obika in for Jermaine Hylton.

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Jermaine Beckford fires home Preston's third before half time

Louis Thompson was named on the bench to feature in a Town squad for the last time, having missed nearly three months with a shoulder injury he had suffered at Crewe.

After the boost of being deemed fit to play, skipper Thompson could not have had a worse start to the game. Within five minutes of kick-off he was being stretchered down the tunnel with his side 1-0 down.

Perhaps worst of all, he had largely played a part in the goal.

Chasing a harmless-looking ball over the top with Beckford, Thompson caught the heels of the Preston man and referee Andy Madley blew for a free-kick. From the resulting set-piece Thompson renewed hostilities with Beckford and again came off second best, the experienced striker nicking in front of the Town captain, leaving him crumpled and the ball in the back of the net.

Town were rattled. Thompson was stretchered off to be replaced by Ricketts.

The Preston fans were bouncing in the West Stand and on the pitch their side were buoyant.

Beckford looked every inch the dangerman he was billed as. Not content with having seen off the opposition captain, he was now causing his replacement Ricketts palpitations.

Beckford was the catalyst for Preston’s second. Another long ball allowed the striker to put Ricketts under pressure, winning a corner. The set-piece was half-cleared and when Madley allowed an advantage to run to Gallagher, the Preston man made it pay in full. His inch-perfect centre found Huntington unmarked in the six-yard box to place past Wes Foderingham.

The red end of Wembley was despondent, but thereafter their team grew into the game. Yaser Kasim started to grow in influence and allow Town to play in the North End half.

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A tearful Nathan Thompson, with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham at the final whistle

One Stephens burst from his own half stirred the fans behind Foderingham into life. The defender’s shot was blocked, but it signalled a the men in red’s arrival at Wembley - just 25 minutes too late.

Just before the break came a minute on which the game could have turned. It ended with the final all but over.

On the right Byrne jinked past Woods and delivered a wicked cross, Michael Smith had timed his run perfectly, but made a complete mess of his header. Careering on to the ball he flicked his effort wide.

Preston went straight down the end and their outstanding player, Beckford, showed Smith how it should be done. Turning away from Turnbull on the edge of the box he ruthlessly exploited his yard of space and curled his shot out of reach of a sprawling Foderingham.

A bitter blow.

After the break Town needed to emerge a changed side, but within minutes of the second half’s resumption Beckford almost had his hat-trick.

Joe Garner pounced on a pondering Smith in midfield and sprung Beckford. Racing through against Foderingham it looked for the world as if he would get hat-trick, but the keeper pulled off a fantastic save to deny him.

Five minutes later, in almost instant replay, Foderingham could not deny Beckford any longer. This time it was Ricketts caught dawdling and Johnson preying on him.

With a near-identical opportunity this time Beckford beat Foderingham and wheeled away, safe in the knowledge his day’s work was done.

Louis Thompson was introduced to try and lift the spirits, but Town were deflated. They had nothing left and Preston were able to keep them at arm’s length with ease.

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Michael Smith is left dejected on the Wembley pitch as Preston celebrate

Massimo Luongo, a big-stage performer for his country, was absent. Ricketts, a man of experience, was ragged. Smith devoid of confidence.

After the fourth the game was over. Town went through the motions and there were half chances for Obika and Turnbull, but never any hope of a turnaround. By the end they were battered, beleaguered and broken.

With the number of players to depart over the summer the challenge facing Cooper now is arguably harder than the prospect he faced at 5.30pm yesterday afternoon.