NORTH END sneaked back into pole position at the top of the league after a disappointing bore-draw against Bury at Deepdale on Tuesday night.

Preston dominated proceedings from start to finish registering ten corners compared to Bury's three - but they could not break down a resilient Shakers defence.

A crowd of 12,260 - the Division's biggest of the season - watched as PNE went all-out in search of another three points.

Graeme Atkinson shot wide after 12 minutes and Andy Saville saw a shot skim inches wide six minutes later.

Bury set their stall out for a draw and were more than happy to come away from Deepdale with a point.

The best chance of the game fell to Preston's David Moyes. Ian Bryson sent in a teasing cross in the 69th minute and the Bury keeper fumbled it, allowing Moyes space to shoot - but his best effort went wide.

Eleven minutes later Preston had a penalty appeal turned down when Gary Sparrow went tumbling in the box, but alas, it was not to be.

Bury's defensive play was outstanding but Preston really should have breached it.

They had their chances and just might live to regret not taking all three points from this crucial clash.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.