COMEDIAN Ken Dodd is in serious danger of losing his title of king of the late, late shows as North End continue to knock in winners in extra time.

Having spent the second half camped out in the Cambridge half, North End looked to have failed to capitalise on the glut of chances they created, until the fourth official showed two minutes of stoppage time.

Preston pushed forward as sub Bjarki Gunnlaugsson played a fine cross from the left, deflecting into the path of Jon Macken, who sent a volley wide of goal.

The fans groaned in disappointment, thinking it was all over.

But wait one minute, one final minute.

Graham Alexander got possession on the right of the box, slipped past Ian Ashbee, took the ball on a couple of yards before lashing in a fierce cross into the goal area.

A whole posse of white shirts and gold shirts moved in on the ball, goalkeeper Van Huesden looked favourite to clear until Jon Macken launched himself forward to send a scorching header crashing into the net for a spectacular winner.

But while it was a pleasing is get three points, to be needing the winner so late on after so much control and possession was staggering.

Preston spent the afternoon playing lovely football, with Macken, Lee Cartwright and Alex Mathie having ample opportunity to score, but for some reason missing the target at the last second.

Against the odds, it was Cambridge who scored first, as Martin Butler headed the ball wide of Tepi Moilanen after finding himself in plenty of space on 36 minutes.

Trailing at half time, Preston returned to the field and set about sorting things out, storming Cambridge's goal with wave after wave of attacks, crosses coming in from all angles. Somehow Cambridge survived it all.

Paul McKenna hit a rasping 30-yard drive that the keeper saved at the second attempt and then, at last, Preston got level.

Some fine control by Lee Cartwright out on the right gave him space for a cross which he delivered into the box to perfection and Jon Macken sent an angled header wide of Huesden to score off the inside of the far post on 56 minutes.

North End didn't let up, and they finally got what they deserved on 90 minutes.

Look out Doddy, North End are after your title.

Let's hope Preston aren't drawn against Knotty Ash United in the FA Cup, we may go on forever . . .

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.