Preston North End’s dreams of reaching Wembley were shattered as they exited the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after a 4 – 2 penalty defeat to bottom of the league Chesterfield at Deepdale.
The game finished 1 – 1 after normal time, as a first half Jamie McCombe header was cancelled out by Craig Westcarr, but after Paul Coutts and the normally so reliant Graham Alexander both missed their spot kicks, Alexandre Mendy coolly sent John Sheridan’s men through to the Northern Area Final where they will face Oldham Athletic.
Preston North End manager Phil Brown made one change to his side that recorded their first league victory in ten games against Hartlepool United with veteran Alexander recovering from his hamstring injury to replace Barry Nicholson.
Sheridan made five changes to his indifferent side who had not won in 11 games outside of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Tommy Lee, Aaron Downes, Dean Morgan, Danny Whittaker and Westcarr all came in to a much changed starting 11.
It was a lively first half and after only 30 seconds, Scott Griffiths skipped past David Gray down the left flank, but his curling low right footed shot from 15 yards drifted the wrong side of the far post.
On three minutes Jamie Proctor’s header from only two yards out flew over the crossbar following a Paul Parry in swinging corner.
Two minutes later and North End threatened once more, as Proctor and Parry combined again this time to allow Neil Mellor to head over from 8 yards when unmarked.
At the other end, Jordan Bowery found himself in acres of space down the right on 14 minutes, but his low drive was grasped by Thorsten Stuckmann at the second attempt.
But on 16 minutes North End broke the deadlock as Danny Mayor’s inswinging corner was met by the head of towering central defender Jamie McCombe who headed past Lee from three yards for his first North End goal.
North End were playing some attractive football and they pushed again on 24 minutes with the impressive Proctor, who beat Mendy for pace before his dangerous cross was cleared away by Drew Talbot.
But against the run of play, Chesterfield got themselves back on level terms in fortunate circumstances.
The ball fell kindly to Talbot whose low drive from 30 yards deflected into the path of Westcarr and he tapped past the wrong footed Stuckmann from five yards for his seventh of the season.
That goal lifted Chesterfield and Westcarr went within inches from grabbing his second minutes later, but his curling effort from 18 yards flew just wide of Stuckmann’s far post after Parry had misjudged the cross.
Mayor was then inches away from regaining his sides lead, but his back post volley was headed onto his own post and wide by Downes.
It was then the away sides turn to strike the woodwork as Westcarr hit the outside of Stuckmann’s left post with a weak 25 yard prod.
Minutes before the break, Westcarr was this time the architect as his pull back set Morgan with the chance to tap home from five yards, but he was denied by Gray on the line.
The second half started tamely, a complete contrast to the first, but Preston did have a shout for a penalty 14 minutes after the restart when Proctor was barged over by Downes, but referee Haywood was not interested.
North End had the majority of possession, but were unable to carve out any clear cut chances.
Chesterfield then had their own shout for a penalty on 74 minutes when Mendy seemed to be blocked off by Gray, but again the officials said no.
A minute later and Dowes was close to a bizarre own goal after his sliced clearance was clawed off the line and over the crossbar by goalkeeper Lee.
But Sheridan’s men were close to grabbing the lead as Morgan’s deep cross from the right was side footed wide by Bowery from three yards.
At the other end, Proctor found himself one on one with the Chesterfield defence, but instead of squaring for Mayor he opted to go alone and it was easy for Lee.
Seconds later and Mellor unleashed a ferocious 35 yard pile driver that Lee tipped wide of his right post.
Mellor then went close again as he latched onto a through ball from Coutts, but the former Liverpool man’s cross shot missed the far corner via a few millimetres.
Mellor was at it again in stoppage time as first his header was well saved down low by Lee before he was a boot length away from diverting Mayor’s deep cross.
But the rain out cried North End’s lowest home support of the season and although Talbot and Mellor both through handbags at each other, League Two’s worst defences cancelled each other out and the game petered out into a penalty shoot out.
Westcarr was first up, but penalty specialist Stuckmann saved high to his right.
Parry and Whittaker both scored, before Mellor stretched North End’s lead.
Former Preston striker Leon Clarke slotted comfortably away, before Alexander to the whole of the stadium’s shock, skied his spot kick miles over meaning the scores were level.
Morgan then put Chesterfield into the lead and Coutts’ effort was saved low down by Lee.
That left Mendy to send the travelling Chesterfield fans into a frenzy and knock North End out.
You can also follow Jamie on twitter: @Jamie_Journo
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