PRESTON NORTH END 3 WATFORD 2, match report by Tom Parker

THIS five goal thriller saw Preston North End take a massive stride towards securing a place in the play-offs and it left both sets of supporters as exhausted as the players at the finish.

The drama began before a goal was kicked as Preston goalkeeper David Lucas injured his back during the pre match warm up leaving manager David Moyes with a dilemma.

Should he hand the keeper's jersey to assistant manager Kelham O'Hanlon or risk teenager Andrew Lonergan in a match of such vital importance. The teenager got the nod.

In the opening minutes, Watford put the youngster under pressure with a series of corner kick and he looked exposed. Then, enter Watford striker Gifton Noel-Williams with a thirty yard rocket at goal that Lonergan saved with some style and the Preston keeper was on his way to a fairytale.

Preston settled down, playing some neat football and they took the lead on 25 minutes. Jon Macken raced into the box to challenge Alec Chamberlain in the Watford goal, Robert Page brought him down from behind and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Deepdale was hushed as Graham Alexander placed the ball on the spot and then up stepped the ice-man to drill the ball into the net and had the Town End still had a roof then it would have been lifted off.

It got better for Preston 10 minutes later when Alexander crossed to the back post, Iain Anderson headed back across goal and in stepped Jon Macken to slide the ball wide of Chamberlain and the Preston fans just loved it.

Moments later though Watford were back in the match. Neil Cox crossed from out on the right and from the edge of the box Gifton Noel-Williams sent a loping header over Lonergan and in under crossbar. Watford came at Preston in the second half and Neil Cox sent a 40-yard free kick smashing against the crossbar and then Lonergan made a fine save to keep out a powerful shot from Tommy mooney.

Preston were on the back foot with Ryan Kidd and Colin Murdock performing heroics to keep out a Watford side trying desperately to keep their interests in a play-off place.

Lonergan was having a fine game in the Preston goal, but on the hour mark he was beaten as Kennedy's corner kick arrived under the crossbar and Page bundled the ball into the net and Watford were level.

Then, with Watford supporters still dancing up and down on the terracing that man Graham Alexander struck again. He sprinted down the right with Watford players snapping at his heel before hitting over a perfect cross for Jon Macken.

The Preston striker took the ball on his chest and allowed it to drop to his feet. The crowd held their breath as the boot came back and then Deepdale was thrown into a frenzy as the ball hit the net behind Chamberlain and Macken disappeared under an avalanche of white shirts.

That was not the end however. Watford were not done yet and Lonergan first made a good save from Tommy Smith and then an even better one at the feet of Noel-Williams.

Then, there was a heart stopping moment for the Preston fans as Tommy Mooney burst through on goal and hit in a storming low shot that even Lonergan couldn't stop.

The ball raced towards goal, smacked against the inside of the post and then rebounded back into the arms of the Preston keeper who was flat on the floor in the box and Preston survived.

The referee put North End through more torture as he added two minutes of stoppage time but Preston held on to take those three precious points.

The win puts Preston in fifth place in the division and now only one point behind West Bromwich Albion and with a game in hand.

North End complete their away fixtures with a visit to Gresty Road to take on Crewe Alexandra on Saturday before the seasons fixtures are completed by visits to Deepdale by Blackburn Rovers and West Brom.

The play-offs are there for the taking now and this is is the most wonderful time to be a supporter of Preston North End.

No one could possibly have envisaged that North End would have been in this position when the season began, but David Moyes and his players have already done a magnificent job.

The premiership is a dream at the moment, but North End supporters will be in the shops looking for dream-catchers for the next three matches.

It now requires complete concentration from the players and massive support from the terracing.

Sometimes, dreams come true.