NORTH End's play-off hopes were all but extinguished by the only team doomed to relegation from the First Division so far - and a controversial handball.

Wayne Gray's last-minute right-footed shot, which he appeared to handle in the process, meant North End left Milton Keynes with one point rather than the three they needed to keep themselves in the play-off race.

Gray had opened up the scoring after just six minutes with a curling shot after Michael Jackson appeared to forget where he was, letting Gray in at 12 yards

A similar defensive howler brought North End back on level terms on 25 minutes. Harry Ntimban-Zeh launched himself at Paul McKenna, who had struck the ball at the goal. Somehow, Ntimban managed to miss both player and ball, which rolled into stranded Scott Bevan's net.

Ntimban-Zeh's fluffed clearance on 44 minutes allowed Simon Lynch to fire low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Wimbledon pulled level on on 65 minutes when Ben Chorley headed home Malvin Kamara's drive which had deflected off the bar, before substitute George Koumantarkis bundled the ball over the line in the 84th.

Brown described the equaliser by Gray - who hadn't scored for 14 months before this game - as a 'clear handball.

He said: "We didn't play well enough on the day but Wimbledon's third goal sums up our lack of fortune this season.

"My main anger was that the referee didn't consult his linesman and I felt the assistant referee needed to be braver.

"I felt the referee gave the sympathy vote to Wimbledon and any contentious decisions went their way.

"That said, the Wimbledon spirit kept them going."

Preston face Nottingham Forest at Deepdale this afternoon.

Ricardo Fuller will return from his four-match ban, hoping to provide North End with the fire-power they have lacked so far this season.

Saturday's game was the first in which North End have scored three goals since they beat West Brom 3-0 in February.

WIMBLEDON 3

PRESTON 3