A THUNDER and lightning storm of tropical proportions plunged the Reebok Stadium into darkness when a thunderbolt of lightning took out the floodlights, leaving the referee with no option but to call a halt.

Yet, at kick-off time, there was no hint as to how the climatic changes would come about as the ground was sunlit and the mercury at pitch level was way above 90 degrees.

Preston started brightly, pushing the ball around the lush green turf and only a fine tackle by Andy Todd prevented Jon Macken bursting through on goal.

Bolton hit back with Dean Holdsworth finding some space 20 yards out and he hit in a powerful low drive which called on all the agility of David Lucas at full stretch.

North End almost took the lead on 20 minutes when David Eyres clipped a great free kick over the white wall of Bolton defenders only to see the ball swerve in the final yard to miss the post by inches with Keith Branagan beaten.

Eyres was in the action again, this time with an inswinging corner that picked out Michael Jackson at the far post and only a fine save by Branagan kept the scores level.

Play swung from end to end, but both defences were on top and as we moved towards the interval it looked as if the first half would be goalless.

In the closing seconds Per Frandsen received the ball just inside the North End half and moved forward.

The Preston rearguard retreated, Frandsen kept moving forward and then from 20 yards he hit a clever low shot wide of the diving Lucas into the bottom corner of the net.

During the break the rain started to fall and in the distance there were rolls of thunder.

North End kept the same starting line-up and they produced a searching examination of the Bolton defence in a bold bid to get level, but the Wanderers' defence held firm.

By now the rain was torrential and the lightning flashed and danced above and inside the stadium as supporters of both sides in the front rows of seating raced back for protection.

Play continued and on the hour Preston gave away a free kick just outside the box and Claus Jenson hit a rocket through the cascading rain high into the top corner of the net.

While the Bolton supporters were still celebrating, North End hit back as Eyres produced some lovely skill and played in a fine pass to Jon Macken who had the ball in the net in a flash to leave the Preston fans singing in the rain.

At this stage conditions became impossible, the rain was now sheeting down in torrents and players on the far side of the pitch became impossible to pick out and the lightning was darting all around the stadium.

Deepdale Duck would have gone home in disgust.

Then there was a clap of thunder followed by a flash that lit part of the terracing and immediately the floodlights went out.

The referee had no option but to abandon the match and bring North End's pre-season competitive action to a premature close with the scores at 2-1.

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