PRESTON squandered the chance to climb into the play-off zone with a poor show against 20th-placed Watford.

A goal in each half secured Watford's win - and it was only acrobatics by youngster Andrew Lonergan - in goal for Jonathan Gould for the second match running - which denied the Londoners a third.

Preston did start well, and it took a fine save by Lenny Pidgeley to tip a shot wide from Eddie Lewis after 17 minutes after the American winger had been set up by Ricardo Fuller.

Fuller himself then went on a great solo run, beating three challenges before tramely tapping at Pidgeley.

But Preston only have themselves to blame for going one down. Eighteen-year-old French youngster Hameur Bouazza turned picked up on a deflected free kick, finding space in front of goal to blast past Lonergan.

And while Preston did push forward in the second half, it was Watford who seemer most likely to score, with Micah Hyde and Neal Ardley both being denied by Lonergan.

Then, on 79 minutes, a long ball down the middle by impressive young defender Jerel Ifil found Paul Devlin breaking clear - and he lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

WATFORD 2

PNE 0