Simply mind-blowing!

The first half was a classic exhibition of wonderfully controlled football as North End stroked the ball around the park with a series of passing movements that was an absolute joy to watch.

It took only six minutes for Preston to take the lead, a brilliantly executed goal that was to be the springboard for North End to capture the points.

Rob Edwards sprinted away down the left flank and he hit over a cross which Crewe defender Efetobore Sodje rose high to try to head clear.

The pass just cleared the blue bandana on his head and landed perfectly for the inrushing David Healy to take the ball in his stride and he played the shot wide of Ademole Bankole for a piece of finishing.

Preston were on their way and this very useful Crewe side was being swept away in almost cavalier fashion.

A second goal just had to come, and it did on fifteen minutes and it was surely one of the goals of the season.

Preston pushed the ball around from man to man leaving the red shirts of Crewe chasing shadows as the Preston fans watched in looks of total approval.

The ball was played to David Healy on the right of the box and he kept the move going with a neat pass to Jon Macken, twelve yards and with his back to the goal.

Down went the left shoulders sending Steve Foster and Sodje in opposite directions to open up a gap, the left boot made a perfect contact with the ball and an explosive shot was hitting the back of the net while Bankole was still rooted to the goal line.

Crewe looked shell-shocked but they raised their game and after a period of sustained pressure with seventeen year old Dean Ashton looking a very good player they got back into the match.

Kenny Lunt's well struck free kick rattled the post as David Lucas tried desperately to het to the ball and it ran free to the unmarked Rob Hulse and he had a simple task of knocking the ball into an empty net.

Crewe stormed the Preston goal looking for an equaliser and Michael Jackson, Ryan Kidd and David Lucas had to be at their best to keep the Crewe attack out.

North End took control again and David Healy's excellently flighted free kick was turned over the crossbar with some style by Bankole and Jon Macken was only a foot wide with a rasping twentyfive yard piledriver.

On the stroke of half time however, Preston delivered their killer blow which was to steal the points.

From inside his own half, Graham Alexander played a forty yard pass that split the Crewe defence wide open and Jon Macken was sent clean through.

Preston fans roared him on, the home fans could hardly watch and then came the lethal strike that sent the net behind Bankole bulging and Gresty Road became a sea of white shirted celebrations.

Crewe came at Preston in the second half and Neil Sorvel came closest to scoring with a powerful shot which hit the angle of post and crossbar.

David Lucas made a blockbuster of a shot from Rob Hulse look easier to save than it was and the Preston keeper was again in action, racing from his line to save at the feet of Lunt.

North End then closed the game down as Michael Jackson who had a brilliant match went off with a facial injury and Sean Gregan moved into the back four.

The scenes at the end of the match when it was confirmed that North End were in the first division play-offs, with still two matches to play were something to behold as Preston fans danced and did a conga on the terracing steps.

It's wonderful season already and it could all get even better before the end of May.

Preston fans, get busy with those dreamcatchers. RYAN Kidd and David Healy conducted the post match press conference and they were both very positive.

Asked who he would like to play in the semi-final, Kidd said: "We don't mind who we play, we don't fear anyone over two legs."

When asked when he first thought that North End would reach the play-offs, he said after some thought. "Last week, we had a great that great start to the season then that bad run. Then came the break for the internationals and then we put together this great run."

On his own return to the side, Ryan said: "You just have to go out and play and hope that you can stay in the side. There is enormous competition here, you just have to give your best."

David Healy said: "It's great to be in the play-offs and what it could lead to. We proved we can deal with the best teams in this division and the lads are full of confidence. In fact, it couldn't be higher."

On his goal scoring partnership with Jon Macken, Healy said: "Jon's great to play alongside, I am learning from him in training, we have a great understanding and he is on fire at the moment with some great goals."

Asked if he thought that Preston could reach the partnership, Healy said: "We are in the last four, so we have a twentyfive percent chance.

"We are playing well, we are all enjoying it and we fear no one. Why not."

On the atmosphere after the win: " It's magic, everyone is shaking hands, saying well done, but the job's not done yet, we still have some work to do, we know what we have to do."