DURING the Easter period back in 1938 Preston North End played Chelsea away on Good Friday and at home on Easter Monday morning.

In between, the Lilywhites had to take on fellow championship contenders Wolverhampton Wanderers. So, a stern test awaited the North End team in their quest for league and cup honours.

In the first game at Stamford Bridge, Preston, with their four Scottish internationals back in the side, attracted a hugh crowd in excess of 54,700.

Chelsea failed to take their chances and were duly punished as North End took command. Watmough scored early in the second half before Mutch settled the match with a well worked goal ten minutes from the end.

Wolves away is never easy especially when the Championship is at stake and Wolves were the present pack leaders. With Maxwell (ankle) and Watmough (groin) injured, Lowrie and McIntosh were called upon to play in front ofa near 43,000 gate.

The Wanderers had heavily watered the pitch and were slated for it in the Press as they tried to combat North End's flowing style of play. Preston's small inside fowards Mutch and Beattie played well considering the heavy going but could not force their way past the gold and black shirts.

On the other hand Wolves, who had slammed ten goals past poor Leicester City on Good Friday, found the North End defence rock solid with Harry Holdcroft in top form and Bill Shankly in a 'thou shalt not pass' mood. The game ended as it began, at 0-0.

Easter Monday and the Chelsea pensioners arrived at Deepdale for what, on paper, should have been easy picking for the North End, but as so often is the case, goals did not come easy.

In fact, they never arrived at all. On the run of play PNE should have beaten Chelsea but indifferent finishing coupled with the Londoners luck meant that Preston blew a great chance of going top of the league.

Over 32,000 thought that Jimmy Milne had won the game two minutes from time but his headed 'goal' was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Next week: League Leaders Arsenal play at Deepdale.

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