CARDIFF CITY 0 PNE 4

NORTH End hit a four goal second half salvo to destroy Welsh warriors Cardiff dead and buried on their own battlefield, writes Tom Parker.

After watching a goalless affair during the first 45 minutes, I took time in the interval to tell one scribe in the press box that I was of the opinion that, sooner or later, someone was going to get a clattering from Preston.

Little did I realise that it would happen in the next 45 minutes as Preston turned on the sort of finishing display that has them in second place in the division and their fans dreaming of promotion while they sang their hearts out in the pouring rain.

It took North End just nineteen seconds into the second half to start the blitz.

Jon Macken out on the right played a low ball into the box looking for Kurt Nogan. A deflection took the ball to the edge of the area where Rob Edwards came steaming in to crash a pile driver past Jon Hallworth for a classic strike.

Then came the moment that turned the match in North End's way as Tepi Moilanen made a fantastic save to keep out a 25-yard rocket from Kevin Nugent that would have taken the net from its moorings had it gone in.

Immediately it was all over as, on 56 minutes, Cardiff could only clear an Eyres cross to the middle of their half of the field.

Graham Alexander got possession and he hit in a powerful low drive that beat the diving Hallworth and went into the net off the inside of the far post.

On Welsh soil again, Nogan knocked in number three on 62 minutes as the Cardiff defence got in a tangle in trying to deal with a cross from Edwards. Nogan moved in to send a header into the roof of the net.

As the rain continued to pour from the skies above Ninian Park, Preston, hungry for goals struck again.

As the 82nd minute approached, Nogan was sent into the box on the left of goal, Jeff Eckhardt brought him down and the referee pointed to the spot.

Up stepped the ice cool Alexander and he hammered the ball into the bottom corner of the net to complete the scoring and make it a wonderful start to the New Year for the Preston fans as they danced in the rain.

The first half has seen the honours even and the final scoreline didn't look to be on.

Yet North End, with this sparkling exhibition of finishing of the highest quality were unstoppable in that breathtaking second half.

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