GOING 18 games without a goal can do funny things to a striker.

But for Richard Cresswell, there was never any doubt that the goals would come.

His workrate has been exceptional, and all he was lacking was luck on his side.

After coming agonisingly close to scoring twice at West Ham he finally found the back of the net to help Preston on their way to the next round of the FA Cup.

Cresswell broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when he unleashed a curling shot past keeper Marcus Hahnemann. Dickson Etuhu had picked up the ball at the halfway line breaking forward to lay the ball into the path of George Koumantarakis, who deflected it into the path of Cresswell. Before the goal, Reading had two chances to go ahead, the first on 14 minutes when Ricky Newman sent a curling shot only just over the crossbar.

James Harper then volleyed wide a rebounded Andy Hughes' cross.

But Preston could have been two up by the 30 minute mark, when Big George set up David Healy. He lifted the ball above the keeper but it landed on the roof of the net rather than under it.

Big George sealed the win just after half-time, grabbing his first goal since March.

It was an absolute gift from the Reading keeper, who dropped Michael Keane's cross right into the South African's path. Reading hit back through Dean Morgan, whose 25-yard drive was tipped on to the crossbar, before Shaun Goater shot wide despite being in a good position.

Keane then had an excellent effort cleared off the line before Reading scored at the other end six minutes from time.