Second-half goals from Tommy Miller and Ian Westlake saw Ipswich strengthen their Nationwide One promotion challenge and condemned Preston to a fifth defeat in six games.
The home side had dominated for long periods but had to wait until the 72nd minute to take advantage when Miller pounced for his eighth goal of the season, and Westlake's injury-time strike sealed the points.
Preston had managed just 15 goals in as many games on their travels this season and it was clear to see why as they rarely threatened as an attacking force.
Ipswich returned to action following a four-day break to Tenerife and almost made a dream start as Jim Magilton fired wide from close range inside the first minute.
That proved to be the only threat on goal in the early stages but Preston 'keeper Jonathan Gould was called into action for the first time in the 12th minute when he tipped Matthew Richards' free-kick round the post after Darren
Bent had been fouled by Michael Jackson 30 yards out.
Bent and Fabian Wilnis were both off target as Ipswich continued to threaten and a foul on the latter saw Eddie Lewis receive the first booking of the game.
Wilnis continued to be in the thick of the action and flashed a shot wide in the 26th minute with Preston struggling to contain Joe Royle's side.
Ipswich had John McGreal booked for a foul on Richard Cresswell just before the half hour but he almost made amends two minutes later when he headed wide from Magilton's corner.
Preston finally created their first chance in the 36th minute but Cresswell's header was held by Ipswich 'keeper Kelvin Davis before McGreal again went close but was denied by a fine save from Gould.
Magilton's free-kick 10 minutes into the second half was held by Gould but Preston looked much brighter after the break and began to look threatening.
They almost broke the deadlock on the hour when Davis parried Cresswell's header from David Healy's corner and leading scorer Ricardo Fuller shot wide from the rebound.
At the other end Magilton was again the provider with a cross which picked out Georges Santos but he failed to beat Gould.
The first goal finally arrived after 72 minutes when a clearance from a corner fell to Westlake. His shot from the edge of the area arrived at the feet of Miller and he turned the ball home from six yards out.
Fuller and Claude Davis both missed the target as Preston pushed for an equaliser but Ipswich wrapped up the points in the first minute of stoppage time when Westlake beat Gould with a left-foot shot for his fourth goal in five
games.
Teams
Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, Santos, McGreal, Richards, Wright,
Magilton (Bart-Williams 78), Miller, Westlake,
Counago (Naylor 55), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Price, Reuser, Diallo.
Booked: McGreal.
Goals: Miller 72, Westlake 90.
Preston: Gould, Jackson, Davis, Lucketti, Lewis (Healy 55),
Mears (Lynch 77), Alexander, Burley, McKenna (Keane 73),
Fuller, Cresswell.
Subs Not Used: Edwards, Lonergan.
Booked: Lewis.
Att: 23,359
Ref: K Hill (Hertfordshire).
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