PRESTON started in impressive style with David Eyres crashing in a shot which looked a certain goal until Barnsley keeper Watson got a hand to the ball to turn it round the post.

Play swung from end to end and first Nicky Eaden shot inches wide of the Preston goal with Moilanen beaten, then Gregan hooked an effort over the Barnsley crossbar.

Preston played some neat football and David Moyes was unlucky to see his header cleared off the goal line.

North End then put together a great string of passes, all ending with the ball being played to Mark Rankine on the edge of the box.

He held his head in despair as he watched his shot beat the goalkeeper only for the ball to rattle the crossbar and stay out.

Goalless at half-time, Barnsley looked stronger in the second half and began to put pressure on the North End defence.

A goal had to come and it did midway through the half when Barnsley put together a fine move to release John Hendrie.

Moilanen came out to try to close him down but he played the ball into the corner of the net for a fine goal.

Liddell looked like adding a second with a tremendous shot which had goal written all over it until Moilanen pulled off a first-class save.

The Bill Shankly Shield was won by Tranmere Rovers who beat Manchester City on penalties, after the match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Barnsley finished in third place, but Preston were not disgraced back in fourth.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.