FOR over a century these two teams have been doing battle against each other, but surely there can never have been anything to match this for excitement

Preston stormed into action and inside the first five minutes had two chances to open the scoring.

First, Rankine was clear on goal but he blazed the ball over the crossbar and then Nogan wasted a great chance.

Still the pressure came from North End and it was rewarded on seven minutes when Nogan scored from close range.

It got better for Preston when Stoke failed to clear Appleton's corner kick, the ball rolled to Eyres on the corner of the area and his powerful drive was too much for the keeper and Preston fans went mad.

Stoke came at North End in the second half, trying to get back into the match and inside five minutes some sloppy defending allowed Crowe to be left with only Moilanen to beat and he scored in the bottom corner.

Stoke came at Preston, looking for an equaliser, urged on by their 3,000 travelling fans from the Potteries, but North End struck on the break and Nogan restored the two-goal lead.

Preston looked to be home and dry, but then Stoke staged a remarkable fight-back as North End went to pieces in defence.

Poor marking allowed Kavanagh to score with a glancing header and Stoke were on the way.

Appleton handled in the box, the referee saw it and despite North End's protests he pointed to the spot.

North End fans looked on nervously as Kavanagh came forward and calmly stroked the ball wide of Moilanen and we were level at 3-3.

Preston rallied, Eyres had a good effort blocked, Gregan tried one from distance but the Stoke defence held firm.

With five minutes remaining and with Preston pressing for the winner, Stoke struck on the break.

Thorne played a fine ball through to Crowe and Preston stopped playing, thinking Crowe was offside.

The flag stayed down and he took the ball on to beat Moilanen with ease and complete the most amazing fight-back for the points.

The Preston fans left the ground in total disbelief.

Not once, but twice, they had seen a two-goal lead disappear and to say the very least they were not happy.

North End need to replace the departed Lee Ashcroft - and soon.

With only three games played, Preston are already five points adrift of the top three, with a non too easy trip to Lincoln coming up next week.

The team requires new talent - someone to put away the chances going begging - and that cheque book needs to be brought into the action.

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