IN SPECTACULAR fashion, Preston North End threw away a last golden opportunity of a route one road to Division One, leaving them facing the agony and trauma of the end of season play offs.

Leading 2-0 with just five minutes to go at the New Den, the Preston supporters' singing echoed around the London docklands and the long journey home looked to be full of happy discussion of the match.

Hundreds of Millwall supporters had already deserted the ground, resigned to defeat, when the panic set in around the North End defence.

A desperate long ball was hurled into the Preston box, a lucky bounce took the ball into the path of Tim Cahill and in a flash he had the ball beyond David Lucas and the remaining South London supporters got behind The Lions.

The seconds ticked away, full time was up, the fourth official brandished a board showing three minutes of added time and the North End supporters knew it was going to be a traumatic three at that.

The script held firm as in a frantic finish, with only 90 seconds remaining, yet another long ball was floated into the packed area, Michael Jackson heading clear, hopefully clearing the danger.

But the ball ran to Paul Ifell on the edge of the box. He controlled it well and in a last ditch attempt on goal he hit a low shot which weaved its way through a forest of legs into the bottom corner of the net. Abject despair shrouded the away fans.

One point instead of a vital three was the reward from a match which they had controlled from the start and the disappointment was only too obvious.

Having dominated the opening 20 minutes, during which they could have scored three times, Preston can only blame themselves for not having put the game to bed by half time.

Inside the first minute, Steve Basham was sent clear on goal for the sort of chance that you would have put your mortgage on but he over ran the ball and Roberts saved well.

Macken then set up Harris who tamely shot at the keeper.

Anxious to atone for his error, Basham raced into the box to the goal line and dragged the ball back for McKenna, six yards out, but he shot well wide of the post.

McKenna then played in a low cross which went across goal as Macken stretched to get a touch and yet another chance went begging.

After so many amazing errors in the first half, it took Preston just 42 seconds after the restart to break the deadlock.

Julian Darby, just outside the box, got control and hit a scorching shot high into the top corner to send Preston cruising.

It got better on 62 minutes when Graham Alexander hit over a corner which Michael Jackson rose high to head into the roof of the net despite a brilliant effort by Roberts to keep it out.

Suddenly, Preston found themselves on the back foot as Millwall began to look for revenge. Neil Harris past Colin Murdock to blast a shot on to the right hand post.

Cahill, Harris and Shaw all had attempts on goal, which were only saved by an acrobatic Lucas.

From then on, it was down hill all the way. Some say the game reflects North End's season - and that is quite possibly true.

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