BRIG nearly pulled off a shock in front of a huge 1,220 audience when they took the lead against a near full-strength Preston squad. (BAMBER BRIDGE 1 PNE 2)

Striker Andy Whittaker left the fans gasping when a barmy goal from him gave the home side the lead after just 19 minutes.

As Lucas, playing his first pre-season game, went to clear a backpass from Colin Murdock, only to smash it into Whittaker, allowing the ball to shoot off the striker and inside the keeper's left-hand post.

This was to be a performance Brig won't forget in a hurry, against a side who were still trying to find their feet.

But PNE were soon back on level terms. Five minutes after Whittaker's shock, Lee Cartwright passed the ball through for Kurt Nogan who took no time in hitting a low shot past Craig Dootson, Brig's goalie.

On 36 minutes, PNE took the lead, when a cross was headed out of the Brig boss to Michael Appleton who lashed it without a second thought.

A string of excellent saves from Dootson in the second half kept Brig in the game.

Mark Rankine, Michael Jackson and Mark Wright all had excellent attempts saved by Dootson, who lit up what was a remarkably dull second period.

PNE: Lucas, Darby, Ludden, Murdock, Jackson, Appleton, Cartwright, Rankine (Murray 76), Nogan (Little 76), Wright, Johanson (Murphy 63). Unused subs: McKenna, Morgan, Dawson, Rummery, O'Hanlon

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