A ONCE-IN-A-LIFTIME 50 yard rocket from transfer-listed Jon Macken sealed victory for North End against promotion favourites Manchester City.

Picking up the ball from midfield on 66 minutes, Macken looked towards the goal, saw the opportunity and unleashed a shot of unimaginable accuracy to give North End the lead for the first time in the match.

His shot was perfect - it didn't even bounce before crossing the line. Deepdale seemed to fall silent as the ball span through the air before sending the net bulging.

It was a goal which manager David Moyes later described as 'unbelievable,' made Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan go 'wow' and should result in Premiership clubs hammering on the door for the want-away former Manchester United youngster.

Yet the game could have been so different. On 10 minutes, only confident work by Tepi Moilenane denied Ali Benarbia.

And despite a much-improved effort from North End's midfield in the first half, which saw attractive, accurate football impressing a 21,000 crowd, 23 minutes passed before a Lilywhite striker had a real chance.

Macken had a bad first touch to a pass from David Healy, but managed a good about-turn before lobbing the ball past the far post.

Two minutes later, Mark Rankine - jokingly referred to as the new North End goal machine following his two in two games of late - sent the ball wide after being set up by Paul McKenna.

Then Macken headed the ball into the hands of Nicky Weaver.

But it was Manchester City who took the lead on 37 minutes.

Danny Tiatto split the defence with his pass to former Leeds and Coventry star Darren Huckerby, whose one touch sent the ball beyond Moilanen, who was playing his 150th game for North End.

Huckerby could have had a goal five minutes before, had it not been for the sharp eye of the linesman. A long shot from Danny Granville was redirected into the net by Huckerby, only to be ruled offside.

Two such scares could have killed off North End's spirit, and have done in earlier games.

But this time just the opposited happened.

Within five minutes of the restart, Healy scored his first league goal at Deepdale. Graham Alexander weaved through the City defence, before crossing to a well-placed Healy who rattled the ball into the net.

City became aggitated and awkward, with disjointed passes, risky tackles and physical tactics simply helping North End on their way.

There was no denying that Macken's goal was special, very special - and it made City even more determined to level.

In the dying minutes of the second half, a now desperate City side thought they had found their way back into the game - having being denied a second goal for off-side - when Huckerby dramatically fell inside the area after coming in close contact with Alexander a couple of yards outside of it.

The referee ruled that no foul had been committed and his decision to award the goal kick had virtually every blue shirt swarming around him.

Whatever sub Eyal Berkovic said to him obviously offended, with the angry Israeli being sent off the field after less than 20 minutes on it.

It was a match which had it all - the perfect clash to mark the opening of the new Alan Kelly Town End - dubbed Preston's 12th man by a smiling David Moyes.

But the chants of 'super Jonny Macken,' the club's man of the match award and plaudits from both managers still don't seem to be enough to make Macken want to stay.

Dodging a post-match question about his future, he said: "I am just concentrating on playing and scoring goals."

And manager Moyes said: "The situation is still the same, he is still on the transfer list."

Of the goal, he said: "It was an unbelievable goal. He looked up, saw his chance, and played it perfectly. It didn't even bounce before crossing the line.

"He does it in training every day!"

The overall performance impressed Moyes, himself linked with a move to Birmingham City.

He said: "I think with a team like Manchester City, you play with a bit for fear and perhaps we did that too much in the first half.

"But the confidence is returning and this result is not only a boost for the club, it is a boost for the town.

"A result like this, against a team like City, shows just how far this club has come."

RESULT: Preston North End 2

(Healy, 50)

(Macken, 66)

Manchester City 1

(Huckerby 37)