YOUNG striker Pawel Abbott ensured Preston finished their home campaign on a high note.

But Richard Cresswell was just as much to thank for the solitary goal which helped Preston to three points and keeps them in with a shout of a top 10 finish this season.

His long rang shot on 13 minutes was parried by Aidan Davison and fell literally inches away from the goal-line.

Abbott was on hand to push it over. He could have blown on it to score, the ball was that close. As it was, he smashed it in -- giving him a goal Craig Brown said the youngster richly deserved.

Cresswell later had a penalty claim turned down as Preston dominated a game which, while not entertaining, proved Preston have what it takes to grind out a result when need be.

Bradford's occasional hints of striking prowess were easily contained by the North End defence and Jonathan Gould, although Andy Myers did manage to break through and shoot to the left of Gould's net.

But it was Preston wh dominated, with Cresswell coming close to scoring one of the goals of the year with a dipping volley from a Paul McKenna cross.

Tyrone Mears pulled off a well-timed tackle on Andy Gray to deny the visitors an equaliser, before Bradford stepped up slightly in the second half.

PNE... 1 BRADFORD... 0