THIS Worthington Cup tie is balanced on a knife edge for when the teams meet for the second leg at Wrexham's ground in two weeks.

Whether or not North End have already done enough, with a 1-0 win, to snuff out the fire of the Red Dragon of Wales for a potential money spinning draw in the next round is uncertain.

Certainly Preston had the chances to take a bigger lead to Wrexham, but some fine goalkeeping by Kevin Dearden restricted North End to just a single goal.

The first chance came when Mark Rankine showed lovely skill out on the left and put over a searching cross which looked perfect for Kurt Nogan, but Dearden just got the fingertips of his gloves to the ball to clear the danger.

Moments later, this time from the right, Graham Alexander beat Phil Harper by the corner flag and put over a fine cross which again the keeper took off the head of Nogan as he raced to meet it.

Wrexham offered little serious danger in the first half, winning several corners but the Preston rearguard was equal to the pressure.

With five minutes of the half remaining, Preston at last beat Dearden with a goal of quality. Sean Gregan played a strong pass towards the left of the box, Jon Macken showed neat control as he played the ball perfectly into the path of Michael Appleton and his powerful first-time shot crashed high into the top of the net.

Preston came at Wrexham in the second half, looking to build on their lead.

They looked to have got a second when McKenna's quickly taken free kick to Gregan was chipped forward by the Preston skipper, leaving Nogan in the clear, but he appeared to be wrong-footed and the ball ran across his body out of play.

Wrexham seemed content to keep Preston at 1-0, striking only briefly on the break, but from one such move Karl Connelly got space 20 yards out and brought a fine save from David Lucas.

Rankine finished off a fine Preston move with a crashing drive which was going inside the post until Dearden took off after it and made another fine save.

Wrexham had two chances, first Ian Stevens with a lovely turn and a shot into the side netting, then Connelly with a dipping drive from 30 yards that just cleared the bar.

Appleton then played a good pass across goal but McKenna couldn't get the touch to steer the ball into the net and, again, McKenna cut inside to open the angle but from the edge of the box his effort was a foot wide.

That was the end of the action which now has the supporters of both clubs eagerly awaiting the second leg - and it would take a brave man to forecast the eventual outcome.

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