PNE 1 Northampton Town 0

from December 13

THE first half performance by North End was as good as anything that they have produced all season and they deservedly went off to applause from all sections of the crowd.

The only thing that was missing was a goal for all the effort and had Preston hit four in that first half then highly-rated Northampton couldn't have complained.

Preston got off to an electric start forcing five corners in less than three minutes and David Eyres could have scored inside the first minute but his close range header was brilliantly saved by Woodman.

Then it was Jon Macken getting in on the act but his effort was also well stopped by the keeper and as Preston stormed the Northampton goal, Tony Lormor, eight yards out, saw his powerful shot come off the body of James Hunt and bounce clear.

Urged on by the North End fans, Preston kept up the pressure as Northampton couldn't get out of their own half and Macken again brought another fine save from Woodman.

Macken continued to lead the line well and his fine header was on its way into the top corner until the excellent Woodman got a white glove to the ball to tip it over the crossbar.

The game was at fever pitch as Preston battled for the lead, again Jon Macken got into a good position just outside the box but his low drive went wide.

Surely Preston would score, and it looked a certainty when Macken played the ball to Lormor unmarked in the box but Preston's big striker missed his kick and another chance went begging.

It seemed that everyone wanted to get in on the act and Kidd and Jackson came forward to add height and weight to the attack, but Northampton's goal had a charmed life and Preston just couldn't find a way through. At last, eleven minutes into the second half, Preston broke the deadlock. Sean Gregan the Preston skipper won the ball midway inside the Northampton half and played a lovely ball to David Eyres. He took the ball into the box and hit a fierce shot which Woodman couldn't hold. It bounced back to Macken and he placed the ball wide of the keeper for a fine goal.

Northampton came at Preston trying to get back into the match and North End looked a little shaky at times but held on to take the points.

Next up is the important local derby high noon shoot out with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday. Anything approaching this first half display should see them through in both matches.

Preston striker Jon Macken won the Man of the Match award and said: "We played some great football, particularly in the first half and it could have been a bigger win."

Asked if he was worried that all the pressure would be for nothing he said: "No, we knew that if we just kept coming at them we would score and that is what happened. David Eyres has had a great shot and the ball came to me off the keeper and it was great to see it go in."

Macken added: "The voucher for his award will be a great present for his girlfriend."

Looking to the FA Cup-tie and the derby match with Blackpool, Macken added: "I'm confident we can win both, especially if we play like we did in the first half." You have to agree with him.

Preston manager Gary Peters said: "That was a great performance. We had five corners in the first two-and-a-half minutes and we played some great football."

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