NORWICH 1 PRESTON 2 PRESTON skipper Sean Gregan was 'astonished' when his 45 yard 'Beckham' chip moved North End into the play-off spots at Norwich.

The midfielder saw Canaries keeper Andy Marshall off his line and, just inside the Norwich half, hit the ball into the corner of net.

It was reminiscent of David Beckham's half way line goal against Wimbledon a number of seasons ago.

"When I looked up, I spotted the keeper off his line and I thought 'Why not?" said the 26-year-old captain. "I just smashed the ball as hard as I could.

"I thought the gaffer was going to tell me off for trying a shot and at first I couldn't tell if it was a goal or not as there was no reaction.

"I was astonished when it went in.

"It was a moment I really enjoyed but just as important for the team was the way we played over 90 minutes."

It was Gregan's first goal for 13 months and the victory took Preston's run to seven wins in nine games.

"Sean is good with his feet," said manager David Moyes. "It was a great goal and will be well remembered.

"It wasn't quite a Beckham because it was more of a looping shot and he hit it with his left foot.

"I thought it had hit the roof of the net but it went in.

"But I thought we played exceptionally well overall.

"Our contribution to the game was excellent. The players movement and passing was first class."

Iwan Roberts got in front of defender Colin Murdock and fired home the Canaries opener after latching onto a Chris Llewellyn cross on 32 minutes.

Two minutes later it was all square when Rob Edwards played a great ball in and David Healy leapt above the Norwich defence to celebrate the seventh goal of his Preston career since his move from Manchester United at the end of December.

Then came Gregan's wonder goal in the second half -- and loan striker Richard Cresswell was unlucky not to make it three after his introduction in the 70th minute.