Sheffield United 3 Preston North End 2

What a way to bring down the curtain on the old Millennium. A five-goal thriller in bitterly cold conditions, an absolute Christmas cracker of a Roses match.

Preston got off to a brilliant start with a goal inside five minutes from new £1.5 million striker David Healy signed from Manchester United.

Gary Parkinson played in a corner kick to the near post, Sean Gregan headed the ball on and with the United defence in a panic, Healy had the ball in the net in a flash leaving Simon Tracey helpless.

North End were in total control of the match and it came as no surprise when they went two up on twenty minutes with a wonderful strike from Mark Rankine.

David Healy was the architect, winning the ball in his own half before releasing Lee Cartwright down the right.

The Preston winger went past Woodhouse as if he wasn't there and delivered in a cross which Rankine launched himself to send a header powering in to the top corner of the net to send the freezing fans wild.

Sheffield United could hardly get a kick as Preston bossed the match but, on the half hour mark the tide began to turn.

Gary Parkinson clashed with David Kelly in the box, the United man went down as if poleaxed, the referee pointed to the penalty spot and up stepped Bobby Ford to send the perfect spot kick high in to the roof of the net.

United stormed the Preston goal in the second half, winning five corners in as many minutes during which time Bobby Ford's spectacular drive smacked against the post and stayed out.

United forced another four corners as Preston clung to their slender lead but, on seventy minutes, they cracked when David Kelly headed home Paul Devlin's perfect cross.

Still Preston battled hard to hold on to the point that they started the game with but, it all went wrong eight minutes from time when substitute James Thomas latched on to a loose ball in the box to shoot under the diving David Lucas to capture the points for the white rose of Yorkshire.

David Moyes was "very disappointed to lose after taking a two nil lead but they put us under enormous pressure in the second half."

The Preston boss added: "The penalty was the turning point, had we gone in two goals up at half time it might have been difficult for them in the second half."

Speaking about the new signing David Healy, he said: "It was good to see him get a goal, that will help him settle in at the club."