PNE 1 LUTON 0 FOR the second time in four days North End earned three vital points but once again, they owed much to the excellent goalkeeping of Tepi Moilanen.

Three times in the first half he made brilliant saves to keep out goalbound shots from Oldfield and Thomas twice.

In between, Preston had a great chance when Appleton released Eyres in the box, but from eight yards his angled shot went inches wide of the far post.

Moilanen's performance ensured North End went in level at half time when they could have been a couple of goals down.

There was more urgency about Preston in the second half but they kept falling into Luton's well organised off-side trap.

Then, almost 20 minutes in to the second half Luton cracked. David Eyres floated in a corner kick which Luton cleared in to the mud just outside the box.

Ryan Kidd came forward and sent a perfect shot high in to the top right hand corner, a postage stamp goal, and the Town End exploded into a cauldron of noise.

Kidd disappeared under an avalanche of white, mud splattered shirts of congratulations.

From then on, Preston battled desperately to hang on to the priceless lead.

Moilanen saved bravely at the feet of Spring and then made telling saves of vital importance as Luton threw everything and everyone into attack.

They looked to have got an equaliser when Davis hit a stunning 25-yard drive that had goal written all over it until Moilanen went full stretch and produced the save of the night in spectacular fashion.

That was the end for Luton and John Mullin missed a fine chance for Preston, when he shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

Preston now make the long journey to Plymouth on Saturday, looking for a third consecutive win to ease the worry of relegation.

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