A piece of brilliance from Josh Brownhill gave North End a deserved 2-1 win against local rivals Burnley at Deepdale
The visitors summer signing Lukas Jutkiewicz capitalised on some loose play at the back and slotted home from inside the area to give the Clarets the lead just after the quarter hour mark.
But Alan Browne equalised six minutes after the break, first to react when Joe Garner saw a shot blocked to fire into the bottom left hand corner from the penalty spot.
And then Brownhill scored a fantastic free kick in the final minute of normal time to give the team a victory.
The game had been a slow burner up to that point, the first quarter hour only seeing one chance, albeit it took a brilliant one-handed save by Jamie Jones to deny Jutkiewicz, whose curling right foot shot from left hand corner of box seemed destined for the top corner.
The goal came on 16 minutes, the North End defence closed down by Danny Ings and Jutkiewicz with the latter walking in and slotting past the keeper into the bottom left hand corner from 12 yards out.
North End’s first good chance came on 24 minutes, Joe Garner’s shot from left hand corner of box forcing Matt Gilks into a flying stop – it had come from a great drive from Alan Browne and a good ball, as North End played away from their own box.
Before the half hour mark Garner again went close, this time a chip just over the bar with Gilks beaten after good build up play down the right, Browne once again finding the No.14.
On the stroke of half-time Tom Clarke had the ball in Bill Shankly Kop net with what proved to be the last touch of the half; Paul Gallagher curled over a deep free kick, but the linesman adjudged Clarke to be offside when he powered a header past Gilks.
The Lilywhites made two changes at half-time with Jack King and Calum Woods on for Neil Kilkenny and Scott Wiseman and there was nearly an immediate response from Simon Grayson’s side, Alan Browne on the end of a driving pacy run by Woods, however, it was straight at Gilks who claimed easily.
Browne didn’t miss on 52 minutes however. Some good build up play again involving the subs as Jack King’s slick pass found Joe Garner in the left hand edge of the box; his shot was well blocked by Clarets skipper Jason Shackell but a strong run from midfield by the Irishman found him unmarked to slot into the bottom left hand corner from 12 yards out.
North End made a number of second half changes, whilst the visitors brought on the extra fire power of Marvin Sordell and former North End winger Ross Wallace, however, it was North End who went closest Kevin Davies causing problems after his introduction and the North End backline doing such a good job that the visitors didn't have a shot in the game after their 16th minute goal, until the last minute of injury time.
Davies meanwhile almost gave North End the win with two minutes left, Chris Humphrey racing down the right and whipping a ball that the former England international trying a scorpion kick that ended in Matt Gilks' hands.
But the best was saved to the very last. Kevin Davies was brought down 36 yards from goal; Josh Brownhill lined up a free kick in a central position and powered the dead ball like a rocket into the top left hand corner delighting the home crowd and giving the side another 2-1 win.
PNE line-up: Jones, Wiseman (Woods, 46), Clarke (c), Wright Kilkenny (King, 46), Gallagher (Humphrey, 61), Garner (Welsh, 75), Little (Hayhurst, 75), B Davies (Buchanan, 78), Brownhill, Browne (K Davies, 75). Subs not used: Stuckmann, Keane, Laird, Buchanan, Hugill.
Burnley line-up: Gilks, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Marney, Ings, Jones, Taylor (Wallace, 61), Jutkiewicz (Sordell, 66), Arfield. Subs not used: Cisak, Lafferty, O’Neill, Long, Hewitt, Anderson, Gilchrist.
Attendance: 5,457 (1,881 away fans)
Referee: Mr P Bankes
But Alan Browne equalised six minutes after the break, first to react when Joe Garner saw a shot blocked to fire into the bottom left hand corner from the penalty spot.
And then Brownhill scored a fantastic free kick in the final minute of normal time to give the team a victory.
The game had been a slow burner up to that point, the first quarter hour only seeing one chance, albeit it took a brilliant one-handed save by Jamie Jones to deny Jutkiewicz, whose curling right foot shot from left hand corner of box seemed destined for the top corner.
The goal came on 16 minutes, the North End defence closed down by Danny Ings and Jutkiewicz with the latter walking in and slotting past the keeper into the bottom left hand corner from 12 yards out.
North End’s first good chance came on 24 minutes, Joe Garner’s shot from left hand corner of box forcing Matt Gilks into a flying stop – it had come from a great drive from Alan Browne and a good ball, as North End played away from their own box.
Before the half hour mark Garner again went close, this time a chip just over the bar with Gilks beaten after good build up play down the right, Browne once again finding the No.14.
On the stroke of half-time Tom Clarke had the ball in Bill Shankly Kop net with what proved to be the last touch of the half; Paul Gallagher curled over a deep free kick, but the linesman adjudged Clarke to be offside when he powered a header past Gilks.
The Lilywhites made two changes at half-time with Jack King and Calum Woods on for Neil Kilkenny and Scott Wiseman and there was nearly an immediate response from Simon Grayson’s side, Alan Browne on the end of a driving pacy run by Woods, however, it was straight at Gilks who claimed easily.
Browne didn’t miss on 52 minutes however. Some good build up play again involving the subs as Jack King’s slick pass found Joe Garner in the left hand edge of the box; his shot was well blocked by Clarets skipper Jason Shackell but a strong run from midfield by the Irishman found him unmarked to slot into the bottom left hand corner from 12 yards out.
North End made a number of second half changes, whilst the visitors brought on the extra fire power of Marvin Sordell and former North End winger Ross Wallace, however, it was North End who went closest Kevin Davies causing problems after his introduction and the North End backline doing such a good job that the visitors didn't have a shot in the game after their 16th minute goal, until the last minute of injury time.
Davies meanwhile almost gave North End the win with two minutes left, Chris Humphrey racing down the right and whipping a ball that the former England international trying a scorpion kick that ended in Matt Gilks' hands.
But the best was saved to the very last. Kevin Davies was brought down 36 yards from goal; Josh Brownhill lined up a free kick in a central position and powered the dead ball like a rocket into the top left hand corner delighting the home crowd and giving the side another 2-1 win.
PNE line-up: Jones, Wiseman (Woods, 46), Clarke (c), Wright Kilkenny (King, 46), Gallagher (Humphrey, 61), Garner (Welsh, 75), Little (Hayhurst, 75), B Davies (Buchanan, 78), Brownhill, Browne (K Davies, 75). Subs not used: Stuckmann, Keane, Laird, Buchanan, Hugill.
Burnley line-up: Gilks, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Marney, Ings, Jones, Taylor (Wallace, 61), Jutkiewicz (Sordell, 66), Arfield. Subs not used: Cisak, Lafferty, O’Neill, Long, Hewitt, Anderson, Gilchrist.
Attendance: 5,457 (1,881 away fans)
Referee: Mr P Bankes