NORTH End completed their brief venture North of the Border with a depressing 3-0 defeat, although it wasn't as bad as the scoreline suggests.

The damage was done in the opening half hour when Dolan and Coyle ran the show in the middle of the park, leaving Preston struggling to get out of their own half.

David Lucas in the North End goal was called upon twice in the opening five minutes to produce saves of the highest quality, the second of which was breathtaking.

North End survived the pressure but they just had to crack - and they did, on 19 minutes.

Owen Coyle showed some lovely control on the right side of goal and when he played the ball back to the unmarked Smith on the penalty spot, the big striker hit a powerful shot past Lucas for a fine goal. Then, on the half hour mark, Preston were caught on the break.

Coyle got away from Alexander on the left and cut into the box, Lucas made another good save but the ball ran back to Coyle and he slipped the rebound into the empty net.

In the second half, PNE had some good chances wasted by Lee Cartwright, David Eyres and Michael Jackson.

Eyres then lashed a free kick from just outside the box into the black and white shirt of Brian Reid and as North End kept up the pressure, Kurt Nogan's powerful cross was clawed out of the top corner by Westwater.

That was the end of Preston's efforts on goal and in the closing minute Dunfermline completed the scoring.

Again Coyle was involved, slipping into the area on the left before playing in a perfect cross to Colin Nish and his header was pure postage stamp into the top corner, leaving Lucas only a spectator.

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