IN a mind-blowing 13-minute salvo, Fulham's Paul Moody crushed North End with a classic hat-trick which now leaves Preston with a semi-final play-off against in-form Gillingham.

Champions Fulham came to collect the trophy and to have a party - North End came for a point to try to secure a second leg home tie.

Fulham got the silverware and the party, Preston didn't get the point.

Yet it all started so well for Preston as they took control of the first half and Paul McKenna was a whisker away from giving North End the lead.

Fulham seemed to be trying to turn on a football exhibition for their fans and although they looked lively with attacks down the wings, Michael Jackson and the defenders around him were hardly troubled.

There was just one anxious moment in the first half when the classy Chris Coleman came forward in support of the attack with a tricky run to the goalline and he crossed perfectly to the far post.

In came Jamie Smith with the goal at his mercy, the huge Fulham support rose as one man to cheer a goal but Smith got underneath the ball and headed over the crossbar.

That was a let-off for Preston but they continued to control midfield with Mark Rankine and Sean Gregan creating opportunities for the front men but, sadly, just as in recent matches the all-important business of putting the ball in the net was lacking.

Level at half-time, Preston just had to believe that they could get the priceless point but they just couldn't have imagined what lay ahead.

Fulham brought on substitute Paul Moody at half-time and his height was far too much for Preston to cope with.

Rufus Brevett made a fine run at the Preston defence, cut inside and then hit over a searching cross that Moody rose high above the red shirts to steer a fine header in off the post as David Lucas tried desperately to keep it out.

Fulham were up for it as Preston tried to get back on level terms.

Then Alexander tripped Hayles. Fulham screamed for a penalty, the referee agreed, up stepped Moody for the spot kick and in the pouring rain above London the jubilant Fulham fans started to party.

It got worse for Preston when they conceded a free kick to the left of the box, Steve Hayward's perfectly flighted kick found the head of Moody again and he sent the ball crashing past Lucas for a great hat-trick.

Preston looked for damage limitation, offering no serious threat to the Fulham keeper Mark Taylor and North End played out time as the singing gushed from the home support.

Preston could reflect on the first half domination and particularly the failure to score goals after creating opportunities.

Kevin Keegan received mixed attention from the home fans following his decision to quit Fulham to take up the England job.

No-one can blame him for taking on the most wanted job in football but it is understandable that Fulham would have liked him to stay to try to steer them to the Premiership.

For Preston it's the dreaded play-offs once again and a first leg at Deepdale against Gillingham.

Preston know that they must have a lead of at least a goal to take with them to the Priestfield stadium for the second leg, with two or three goals even better.

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