Preston North End survived a spirited Yeovil Town fight back to win 4 – 3 in a seven goal thriller at Deepdale on Friday evening.
The game was level at half time after Proctor’s opener was cancelled out by Anthony Edgars cute finish, but it was the second half when the game really came alive.
Goals from Barry Nicholson and Neil Mellor gave Preston a two goal cushion, but Iain Turner’s error let Yeovil back into the game.
Mellor’s second again restored the home-side’s two goal lead, but a penalty from MacLean after a Clarke Carlisle handball made it a nervy ending for North End.
Preston who hit the post three times in the second half, were lucky not to concede in the final minute, but Turner saved.
North End manager Phil Brown made only one change to the side that beat Notts County 2 – 0 at Deepdale prior to the International break with prolific Iain Hume who had scored in midweek for Canada replacing Danny Mayor who took up his place on the substitute’s bench.
Yeovil Town boss Terry Skiverton opted for the same team that drew 0 – 0 away at Tranmere Rovers last Saturday.
A first half full of opportunities for both sets of teams was emphasised right from the off, as after just 5 minutes, North End took the lead through Proctor.
A short Graham Alexander free kick was played to Neil Mellor in the box and his miss-hit shot was pounced upon by Proctor who turned and rifled in off the crossbar from 6yards.
Four minutes later and Yeovil could have levelled, but Max Ehmer’s back post header was cleared off the line by Alexander with Turner beaten.
Preston then went down the other end and Proctor should have doubled his and North End’s tally, but his header from 6 yards was straight at Jed Steer after good work from Conor McLaughlin.
Three minutes later and North End were nearly their own worst enemies when a short back pass from Carlisle had Turner scrambling, but the Whites’ number one did enough to deny substitute Agard.
The host of chances continued and on 25 minutes a deep cross from Alan O’Brian found Edgar free at the back post, but his first touch was found wanting.
However that was to be a warning sign for Phil Brown’s men as five minutes later Yeovil carved out an almost identical chance to the previous one, but this time they made it count.
O’Brian’s back post cross found Edgar again and this time the winger made no mistake volleying expertly past Turner from 10 yards.
North End started the second half like they did the first and they re-took the lead after only five minutes.
Good work from Paul Coutts allowed Mellor to lay the ball back for Nicholson who cooly slotted past Jed Steer into the far corner.
Hume and Mellor both had great opportunities to put the game to bed, but they both fired straight at Steer.
There was then a 15 minute spell in the second half where Preston played some sublime attacking football.
On the hour mark, Mellor thought he had put the game to bed after a cross field ball from Alexander was headed back across goal by Hume and Mellor arrived late to head back across the goalkeeper into the back of the net.
A minute later, Mellor’s header was met by the scurrying Nicholson, but he could only slide the ball onto the post.
Mellor again involved as he crossed low for Proctor, but he again could not beat the post when it looked harder to miss.
The Glovers who had not won in four coming into this one, then made Brown’s men pay.
A speculative 40 yard effort from MacLean was fumbled into his own net by keeper Turner after it should have been a routine catch.
But Preston then restored their two goal lead for the second time in the match on 70 minutes when great interplay from Proctor and Mellor allowed Mellor himself to grab his second and Preston’s fourth after he curled his shot into the far corner.
Five minutes later and The Whites’ were denied by the woodwork for the third time.
Great play by the interchanging front three as Hume played in Mellor, but the former Liverpool player rattled the far post.
Down the other end and with ten minutes remaining, Carlisle was deemed to have handled the ball in the area and MacLean drilled the resulting penalty away for his second of the game.
Yeovil’s never say die attitude was nearly rewarded when Edgar was played clean through in stoppage time, but Turner more than made up for his earlier mistake by saving down low to preserve the three points for his side.
After the game, striker Mellor admitted he could have had more goals,
"Me and Proctor could have both had a hat-rick tonight."
Kirkland leaves Wigan Athletic with heavy heart
(Wed 23/05)
Blackburn Rovers target Ki focused on Celtic
(Wed 23/05)
Post a comment