WREXHAM 0 PNE 0 PRESTON North End knew they would be in for a difficult afternoon when they came out for the start of the match amid a deafening chorus of Men of Harlech from 5,000 Wrexham supporters, reinforced by 2,500 from Lancashire.

It was the Red Dragon of Wales versus the Red Rose of Lancashire as the Welsh side battled for a place in the end of season play-offs.

In the mixture of brilliant sunshine and pouring rain Wrexham started brightly and Michael Jackson and Sean Gregan came under pressure.

Yet it was Preston who had the first real chance as David Eyres danced past three defenders before hitting a cross shot which went narrowly wide of the far post.

Mark Rankine had a goalbound shot saved by Andy Marriott, Paul McKenna shot wide and Michael Jackson headed Eyres' corner kick over the crossbar.

Wrexham responded with Dean Spinks off target and Moilanen made good saves from efforts by Mark Wilson and Neil Roberts.

With honours even at half-time, Preston expected Wrexham to come at them in the second half - and they did so with a vengeance.

Roared on by what was now an almost frantic home support, Wrexham stepped up a couple of gears.

First Karl Connolly rattled the North End crossbar with a stunning shot and while the bar was still shaking Paul Sparrow was at the other end with a shot that went narrowly wide.

Back came Wrexham's red tidal wave, Wilson's powerful 25-yard special beat Moilanen but came back of the crossbar and Moilanen performed heroics to race back to his goal to claw a Roberts header out of the top corner of the net.

Then Dave Brammer struck a powerhouse drive that Moilanen this time saved at full stretch.

Preston rallied and Ashcroft wasn't far away with a shot that curled past the upright.

It was action-packed, tense, nailbiting stuff and the crowd loved it but the result was always in doubt.

In the closing stages Wrexham turned the screw.

Roberts was inches away with a shot from the edge of the box and it seemed surely North End would crack.

The fact they didn't was due to some excellent defending and the odd slice of good fortune, but Preston deserved the point.

On a day when nobody let anybody down, it was difficult to select a man of the match.

In the end I decided on Michael Jackson for the best he has ever played wearing the white short of Preston North End.

Now Preston will bring the curtain down at Deepdale in the championship decider when Bristol City travel north on Saturday.

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