NORTH End striker Steve Basham ended his goal famine on Saturday (September 3) with a spectacular volley twenty seconds into the second-half to secure the points for Preston and keep the Deepdale side up with the early season pacesetters.

Preston had chances to take the lead in the first-half when Jon Macken's excellent cross looked perfect for Basham but he mistimed his run to the far post and couldn't get the angle right for a header on goal.

Michael Appleton got forward to shoot just wide and then it was Graham Alexander providing a good cross which picked out Michael Jackson around the penalty spot, but his header went straight to Russell Hoult in the Portsmouth goal.

Darren Moore was having a great game at the heart of the Pompey defence and he produced a perfect tackle to prevent Steve Basham opening the scoring as he burst into the box looking a certain scorer.

Linvoy Primus did something similar as Michael Appleton was sent clear and it was a frustrating time for the North End supporters.

Yet, it all came right early in the second-half with that excellent effort from Basham and Preston stuck it up Pompey knocking the ball around the park playing some neat football.

Portsmouth came more into the match as they now had to abandon their defensive tactics and Tom Curtis hit a 25-yard drive a foot wide of the post.

Portsmouth looked to have got an equaliser when a mix up in the Preston defence saw the ball run free into the path of Lee Bradbury, but his low shot was kept out by Tepi Moilanen.

Preston had a chance to wrap it all up with a free-kick just outside the box, but the Portsmouth wall held firm and then Jon Macken was only a fraction away with a header that drifted wide of the post.

Portsmouth kept plugging away and Sean Derry hit in a powerful swerving shot that Moilanen did well to keep out.

Sean Gregan had a great game at the heart of the Preston defence, snuffing out the dangerous Steve Claridge to the extent that the Portsmouth striker hardly had a kick.

In the four minutes of time added on for stoppages, Portsmouth made a surge on the North End goal but the defence held firm to keep another clean sheet. North End deserved the win, they were positive at the back and Mark Rankine and Michael Appleton dominated the midfield and look to be very comfortable with each others style of play.

Gregan really looks the part playing in the back four alongside Michael Jackson and taken all round it was a good team performance against a very useful Portsmouth side.

The goal for Steve Basham will have done wonders for his confidence and that could now open the floodgates.

Ten point from the first five games is a very good haul for North End and this gives the Preston fans hope for what is to come as the season progresses.

With Preston well in contention with the leading pack they are entitled to feel that a bigger crowd than the 13,433 which turned up for this match will be in attendance for the next league match at Deepdale.

PRESTON boss David Moyes was: "Pleased with the performance. We changed things around at half-time and we got the second-half off to a great start."

Moyes said of Basham's goal: "I was very pleased for him, he took it well and people have to remember that Basham and Macken are still only young boys."

Moyes went on "We have to be pleased with our start to the season, three wins and a draw is a good return but we will just battle on.

Pictured: Pompey defender Darren Moore takes evasive action to clear from PNE danger man Jon Macken