CREWE'S last minute goal angered Preston boss David Moyes as North End slipped to their first defeat in four matches.

Moyes was furious when Dario Gradi's side were awarded a free kick in the 90th minute and Kenny Lunt sent in a cross which Steven Foster headed home.

Moyes said: It was a terrible decision. It was never a free kick in a million years but that is no excuse for the way we defended it."

Preston dominated the early part of the match with both Jon Macken and Paul McKenna going close.

But Crewe's young sub Dean Ashton made the first real impact. The 17-year-old had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he fired Rodney Jack's shot past Tepi Moilanen on 31 minutes.

Mark Rankine levelled for North End with his first goal of the season, he got on the end of Lee Cartwright's cross on the hour.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw before 21-year-old Foster scored the last ditch winner.

"I thought we dominated the game," said a shell-shocked Moyes. " Crewe had a good spell and took advantage after their goal for 20 minutes or so, but in the second half we created chances but wasted them."

But he refused to be angry at his players who have won just three league clashes so far this season.

"I couldn't really shout at the players," said Moyes. "I thought we played very well and deserved to win the game. We'll just have to start again at Hillsborough."

Preston make the trip to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night looking to kick start their season.

Meanwhile Gradi admitted: "The winner was timed to perfection. You cannot do much better than score with the final touch."

RESULT: CREWE...2 PRESTON...1