Preston North End 2 Walsall 0 MORE than 10,000 supporters turned up for this carnival time in Rio-style celebration, as Preston North End brought down the curtain on the season, and didn't they enjoy it!

The final match at Deepdale on Saturday (May 3) - in front of the famous Kop before it is to be demolished - was a Preston showpiece as players down the ages who have pulled on the famous white shirt returned to Deepdale to be saluted ... and everyone was cheered to the echo in the lovely sunshine.

And what a start to the match! A mere one minute and 27 seconds showed on the watch as Michael Holt cut inside, back to goal, before looking up from the corner of the box and sending a curler high into the top corner of the net and the Town End crowd went wild.

Walsall, so close to the play offs, were rattled and had a lot of defending to do as the crowd urged Preston on and Holt went close to adding a second.

Sadly, Holt limped off injured to be replaced by Kurt Nogan but the Welshman hardly got into the match.

Preston looked as if they could always step up a gear to clinch the match as Walsall struggled to get their act together and David Moyes and Russ Wilcox were in total control at the back.

Kicking into the Kop goal in the second half, the Deepdale supporters, always lifted by the excellent antics of Deepdale Duck, wanted a goal knocked in there before the bulldozers moved in. And they got their wish. Simon Davey played in a lovely cross into the box, David Reeves made contact with his blond head and the ball drifted high into the top of the net and once again the scarves and banners waved in celebration.

That was it and the mood of happiness spread around the terracing as the wonderful Preston North End supporters enjoyed the occasion.

Gary Peters wasn't at the match, away looking at possible new talent to bring to Deepdale.

The Kop will be dismantled and then rebuilt as part of the re-development of this famous stadium.

On the field, the rebuilding of the team will go on during the summer and some of the players out on the park on Saturday will have, perhaps, played their last for Preston North End.

No matter, that is for next season and this time around North End are safe.

The Preston supporters will now enjoy the summer break and watch with interest the comings and goings at Deepdale.

Without doubt, the real stars of the season are Preston North End's wonderful supporters.

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