Preston North End Reserves 2 Burnley Reserves 2

A LATE wonder strike from Eammon Kelly silenced a crowd of just over 400 at Deepdale last night to give the Clarets a share of the spoils in this dress rehearsal of Saturday's Lancashire derby.

Only 13 minutes remained when Kelly picked up the ball in midfield and, from fully 30-yards, he unleashed an unstoppable shot which rocketed past David Lucas into the top right hand corner.

But a point was the least a youthful Clarets side deserved against a North End side packed with first team stars, including former Burnley duo Gary Parkinson and Kurt Nogan.

The home side struck the first blow on 27 minutes when Dominic Ludden fed Steve Basham on the edge of the area and the lively striker turned to hit a well-placed curling drive past the helpless Craig Mawson.

But the visitors fought back and could have gone in level at the break but for a first-class save from Lucas which denied Alex Kevan. The equaliser finally arrived on 67 minutes when Kelly released Anthony Shandran, who was hauled down by Ludden in the area and Kevan stepped up to slam home the spot-kick.

North End were not finished, though, and Parkinson restored their advantage 15 minutes from time with a glorious free kick which flashed through the defensive wall and into the corner.

However, that lead was only to last two minutes before Kelly intervened with a stunning leveller.

Nogan nearly cancelled that out, though, in a dramatic finale but his close range header was ruled out by an offside flag.

BURNLEY: Mawson, Scott, Devenney, Williamson, Heywood, Harrison, Bowden (Leeson), Kelly, Shandran, Clark, Kevan. PRESTON: Lucas, Parkinson, Ludden (King), Darby, Kidd (Murphy), Dawes, Cartwright, McKenna, Nogan, Angell, Basham (Eaton).

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