Heriot-Watt up to third after crushing victory
Aaron James scored in the first minute and Erik Thomson added a second before half-time. Dominic Samuel, Ross Leask and Chris Donnelly netted after the break while Stuart Miller scored a consolation penalty for Preston.
Spartans maintained their eight-point advantage at the top of the table with a 7-0 thumping of Selkirk. Keith McLeod scored five goals with Donal Henretty and Gavin Malin also on the mark.
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Hide AdSecond-placed Lothian Thistle beat Edinburgh City 2-1 with goals from Mark Lothian and a Mike Herd penalty, while Shaun Harrison netted for City.
Whitehill Welfare, who have eight games in hand on Spartans needed a last-gasp goal from recent signing Paul Lynch to beat Edinburgh University 1-0.
Civil Service Strollers had two players sent off but held on to draw 2-2 with Tynecastle. Ross Miller and John Dunn scored for the Strollers with Wayne Sproule scoring the Tynecastle goals.
Craigroyston beat Eyemouth United 2-1 in the First Division, Stirling University hammered Gala Fairydean 6-0 and Easthouses Lily saw off Hawick Royal Albert 5-0.