WITH several key players missing through injury, North End did enough to take all three points to stay well on course for promotion in this 2-1 win.

Preston started well, Andy Gray hit a powerful free kick into the wall of blue-shirted defenders as they enjoyed the early pressure and Mark Rankine went close with a powerful shot from just outside the box.

Mark Wright, pictured, making his league debut in place of the injured Lee Cartwright, had an excellent chance to open the scoring when he was sent clear with only the keeper to beat.

His first shot was brilliantly saved by Gary Kelly and when the ball rebounded to him he shot wide of the post.

Preston kept coming forward. Dominic Ludden hit a rasping shot inches wide and Oldham were under pressure.

But they survived it, took control in midfield and full back Paul Mardon tested David Lucas with a powerful shot which the North End keeper saved well.

On a very uneven, rutted pitch both sides tried to play attractive football.

In fact, it was as a direct result of the pitch's condition that Preston went in front on 25 minutes.

Michael Jackson, who had a fine match, played a neat ball from deep inside his own half to release Kurt Nogan on goal.

It looked as if the pace of the ball would take it through to the keeper, but it hit a bare patch just outside the box.

The ball died and Nogan got to it before Kelly.

His shot at goal was stopped by Kelly, but when the ball bounced back to him Nogan hit it hard and low into the back of the net to cue the Town End choir.

Oldham hit right back and should have got level when John Sheridan was set up 12 yards from goal.

He hit a firm, crisp shot but it lacked direction and the home supporters breathed again It was only a brief reprieve for, on the stroke of half-time and after a sustained period of enormous pressure from Oldham, the visitors drew level.

Paul Reid showed some lovely skill out on the left before floating in a high cross to the far post.

The Preston defence was in a panic as Garnett and Mardon stormed the North End goal.

Mardon got his head to the ball to steer it into the net and he too ended up in the net as his colleagues celebrated a deserved equaliser.

Oldham started the second half in sparkling fashion and Reid played in a corner kick which Mardon got to but he couldn't hit the target.

North End, inspired by the crowd, almost went ahead again when a dreadful corner kick from Gray was misjudged by Rickers at the near post and just as the ball was creeping into the corner of the net Kelly dived to turn it around the post.

Then the game sparked into frantic action as Preston were awarded a penalty for what looked like a hand-ball from the press box.

The Oldham players swarmed around the referee in protest but he stuck to his decision amid much pushing and shoving.

When order was restored, Steve Basham placed the ball on the spot.

You would have put your mortgage on the free scoring striker hitting the net, but as the North End fans got ready to cheer a goal, he shot tamely to the keepers' left hand and Kelly saved brilliantly.

Perhaps justice was done.

Then amid enormous celebrations North End went back into the lead.

Gray's corner to the near post was flicked on by Macken.

Oldham failed to pick up Jackson and the Preston central defender raced in to send a fine header crashing into the net for an excellent goal.

Oldham were not finished yet and they came at Preston, firing on all cylinders.

They looked certain to equalised again but, from eight yards with the goal at his mercy, the Oldham attacked somehow managed to shoot wide.

Preston rallied. They struck on the break from defence and Nogan had a fine chance to clinch it all but wasted it.

In a final, nerve-tingling two minutes Oldham threw men forward looking for a goal but North End held out.

Man of the match on Saturday was no contest; Michael Jackson by a mile - and then some.

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