IT was a far better performance by Preston North End on Saturday (Nov 8) as they paraded new striker Tony Lormor from Chesterfield alongside Lee Ashcroft and both players ended up on the scoresheet.

Preston started brightly and could have been two up in the opening ten minutes as first David Eyres and then Lormor both went close.

Eventually, the five-hour North End goal famine has to end and on 16 minutes Lormor delighted the Preston fans with a good goal.

It came when Appleton picked out Rankine on the right of the box and he sprinted clear before providing a perfect cross which Lormor duly despatched and then went to receive the applause of the North End travelling support.

But, back came Luton, putting the Preston back four under pressure and Gary Waddock put in a low cross which Alexander allowed to run past him and Tony Thorpe was onto it to score from close range.

That goal was in 25 minutes and the tempo of the game increased as both sides provided some excellent football.

Then, in stoppage time in the first half, Lormor had a shot from wide on the right which moved away from goal and in came Eyres to crash an unstoppable low shot into the bottom corner for a great goal.

Luton, not surprisingly, came out strongly in the second half looking for a second equaliser and the Preston back line was under enormous pressure.

McLaren, who had a fine game in midfield, shot wide from 16 yards and a Thorpe special was excellently saved by Tepi Moilanen.

Thorpe was again sent through, but once again Moilanen kept him out and the home support got increasingly frustrated.

At this point Luton brought on Andrew Fotiadis for Gray and he started to create problems, but North End, defending, battling hard and working for each other looked solid.

Then Oldfield's shot was going wide but hit Marshall and went off towards the inside of the post, until Flying Finn Moilanen leapt across goal and got a glove to the ball and turned it around the post for a corner.

Luton deads dropped and Preston sensed victory, but Luton weren't done as they sent on their two remaining substitutes and in a frantic bid to get a goal Oldfield shot wide.

In the final minute Luton were caught on the break as Eyres won the ball on the edge of his own area and played a classic through-ball to send Ashcroft clear.

Kelvin Davis came out to close him down but Ashcroft went round the keeper and sent the ball on into the empty net.

It was a second away win of the season for North End and by far their best performance of the season.

David Eyres and Ryan Kidd put in performances that were exceptional.

The overall balance of the team was better, more constructive and solid - and no doubt the Preston supporters who travelled home in the pouring rain enjoyed the occasion.

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