RICHARD Cresswell came to the rescue for the second time in three days with a late strike which ensured North End remain unbeaten on the road.

On the stroke of full time, Cresswell slotted an upfield cross from Graham Alexander beyond keeper Jason Brown to ensure North End came away with something from The Priestfield Stadium.

Gillingham, who knocked five past Preston on the opening day of last season, had gone ahead after 62 minutes.

Mark Saunders played a neat one-two with Paul Shaw before beating Tepi Moilanen.

As with Stoke on Saturday, North End should have been ahead by this point, although action in Kent was much in even.

After just 30 seconds Ricardo Fuller, who overcame a shoulder injury to play, lashed out a 30 yard shot which Brown was forced to save after just 30 seconds.

On 10 minutes, Fuller played in Cresswell, only for Brown to save again.

Having missed those chances, it was then down to Tepi Moilanen to hold his own against the Gills's strikeforce.

Mamady Sidibe found himself in front of an open goal, but shot wide.

Then Graham Alexander drilled wide on 35 minutes, despite both Cresswell and resurgent David Healy coming close to deflecting it into the net.

Healy then forced Brown into a low save before a lob from Guy Ipoua was comfortably saved by Tepi.

The arrival of Tommy Johnson, on for Sidibe in the second half, resulted in the Gills upping the tempo as he made Tepi work flat out to keep out at 20-yard strike on 57 minutes.

Even after the Gills had scored, Preston seemed the livlier of the two sides.

Alexander forced Brown to tip an accurate free-kick around the post, before Fuller hit the crossbar from five yards.

Manager Craig Brown said: "I think it was an even game and we are now building up a good away record.

"We have had a tough away start. Rotherham, Nottingham and Gillingham are not easy places to get points."

Gillingham 1 Preston North End 1