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John Filan returned to goal in place of Gary Walsh while the major suprise was Magno Silva Vieira the young Brazilian making the substitutes bench after he was granted a Portuguese passport in mid-week.
It was a very good contest with neither side holding back. However the Latics had the best of the game with Lee McCulloch in particular looking very threatening in attack.
Jimmy Bullard and Jason Jarrett controlled midfield while Ian Breckin and Matt Jackson did very well at centre back, restricting Ricardo Fuller to just one chance in the first half. Unfortuately, he got free to nick a goal in the dying moments.
McCulloch started the game brightly and had the first chance. He had a shot that went straight down Gould's throat after jsut two minutes from Kennedy's cross.
Just five minutes later an Andy Liddell sent a glorious pass cross-field to Lee McCulloch who had got between Lucketti and Jackson. He pulled the ball down superbly with the outside of his right foot, wrong footing Lucketti who proceeded to slip on to his gluteous maximus before McCulloch thumped a half-volley against his thigh. Andy Liddell followed up but his shot was blocked, Peter Kennedy then followed up again only to see his effort blocked before Graham Alexander cleared the ball from danger.
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However Preston had the best chance of the half when Ricardo Fuller was left isolated one-on-one with Matt Jackson, he tugged the centre back to the left and turned to the right before cracking a sizzling shot onto John Filan's right hand post.
Shortly after and Lee McCulloch was presented with another guilt edged chance. This time Jason Jarrett drove his way into the box, via the right wing and then crossed superbly if not slightly to high for McCulloch who headed over the bar from six yards.
Eddie Lewis had a chance from 20 yards after a well worked free kick but John Filan was equal to it with a superb save.
Second Half
The Latics opened the second half brighter and had the first chance when Jason Jarrett blasted over the bar after Neil roberts knock down.
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Neil Roberts then had a very good chance of his own when Jimmy Bullard's corner was floated in his direction. He met the ball with power and the ball shot towards Gould's left hand post. Unlucky for Robbo and the Latics it was headed off the line by Keane.
Lee McCulloch then had another chance to add to his ever growing collection when he fired wide from 20 yards after Neil Roberts set him free. His curlnig effort seemed destined for the top corner but it just drifted wide of the post.
Creswell missed North End's best chance of the game when he fired straight at Filan from 3 yards before Jackson hacked the ball clear after a corner.
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Preston made a change of their own after 80 minutes with Healy replacing Lewis is a straight swap on the right side.
Preston then took the lead. Alexander's corner was headed beautifully into the net by the seemingly tired Fuller.
However this lead was short lived with Teale crossing for McCulloch to smash his header into the back of the net. A stunning equaliser for the Latics at the death.
Manager Comments
Paul Jewell
"I thought it was a really good game of football and played in good spirits. It was quite an open game. I thought we deserved to win the game but I would say that. If you don't work hard you won't get results.
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