Preston secured one of their most crucial away points of the season as they deservedly came from behind to draw in an all-action Play-Off chasing battle.

The Sky TV cameras were certainly at the right game for entertainment, and it was a wonder that only two goals were scored in a game ultimately decided by Nicky Maynard's header and Youl Mawene's side footed equaliser.

The response that greeted the final whistle - silence from the home fans and excited applause from the fancy-dress clad away fans - was perhaps indicative of the importance of this point to both clubs' Play-Off bid, with Preston ending the day just a point off the top six and City three points further off the pace and needing to win all of their remaining games to meet the target of five wins from the final six as set by their chairman, Stephen Lansdown, to make the end of season showdown.

North End unveiled a new central midfield partnership for the tea-time kick-off, with Chris Sedgwick moving to the right hand side of midfield as skipper Paul McKenna returned alongside debutant Lee Williamson. The two to miss out in their favour - Darren Carter and Simon Whaley - instead took places on the bench.

The international break appeared to have given both sides ample opportunity to recharge their batteries, with the game charging into life from the word go.

There was no definitive pattern of authority at any point in an absorbing opening half hour, as both sides sprayed the ball around like sprinklers on a lush playing surface.

First chance went to the home side's Dele Adebola, who looked set to pull the trigger just as Sean St. Ledger got back to make a key third minute block, while the same striker and his midfield colleague Gary Johnson both struck pot shots from distance that PNE had to defend with outstretched blocks as the home side countered Preston's opening pressure in the first couple of minutes.

Chances fell, too, to the Lilywhites, with a cultured attacking move releasing Wallace down the left. His cross was met my Jon Parkin, and it created an opening for strike partner Stephen Elliott as Liam Fontaine and keeper Adriano Basso collided while trying to avert the danger. Fortunately for them, the Irishman's first time shot whisked wide of the post.

All this fell within the opening ten minutes, and there was more to come as Wallace's booming drive was spilt by Basso; full-back Jamie McAllister required to clear as Parkin prepared to pounce on the rebound.

City, meanwhile, were guilty of missing some key chances in one of the most entertaining scoreless first halves you'll see. Adebola twice headed off target - once from a Michael McIndoe cross that was a standard near miss, but the second, from Sproule's cross, was a blooper DVD miss as he looped the ball over the bar when unmarked in the centre.

Both sides were then indebted to the generocity of their opposition strikers, with Maynard rolling the ball wide of the post from just 12 yards out, and then Elliott elected to pass to a surprised Parkin rather than taking the expected option of a shot when he broke into space - and a great striking angle - down the right.

Paul McKenna, searching his first goal since the opening day of the season, nearly found it as he tested Basso from distance, and the keeper seemed bemused as he reacted late - but crucuially not late enough - to punch the midfielder's dipping 25-yard shot over the bar.

It was a wonder that none of the chances - which were the hundreds and thousands on an icing of a game - were converted before the break, but there were goals in the offing after the break.

The home side dominated the opening stages of the second half without seriously putting PNE's goal under threat until the 58th minute, when the pressure finally told.

Adebola broke free down the left, and having chipped the ball into the centre at head height, his striking colleague Maynard rose well to nod the ball down into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

Needing an immediate response, the lively Elliott struck an upright for Preston, while Chris Sedgwick mis-hit a left-footed shot from 20 yards before Billy Jones' well flighted cross from the right evaded Parkin, who was waiting for it at the far post.

Parkin also went agonisingly close with a shot cleared over the bar before the pressure of such a manic game finally told on the previously outstanting Bradley Orr.

Under little or no pressure, he hacked a loose ball dead behind his own goal, gifting Preston a corner which Ross Wallace was eagerly keen to take. Still shocked from conceding such an odd set piece, the south western side's defenders failed to track Youl Mawene's run to the near post as Wallace whipped it in low, with the Frenchmen side-footing home as Basso could only get a hand on it.

Cue celebrations from the travelling PNE army, many of whom were in fancy dress or in possession of retro-style inflatables on one of the warmest days of the season, and the final 21 minutes could have been anybody's.

In the end, both sides could take heart from a fair point, but it wasn't without ten minutes apiece of continued pressure.

City pressed and pressed for the first ten minutes after the leveller, forcing several corners as Preston defended as though their lives depended on it, while the away side could have taken the three points for themselves as they repeatedly raced clear on the counter, but were unfortunate not to pick out the right pass on a number of occasions as they broke with men to spare.

Bristol City: Basso, Orr, Fontaine, McCombe (capt), McAllister, McIndoe, Johnson (sub Elliott 90), Skuse, Sproule (sub Williams 85), Adebola, Maynard (sub Trundle 90). Subs not used: John, Henderson.

PNE: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Nolan, Sedgwick, McKenna (capt), Williamson (sub Carter 83), Wallace, Parkin, Elliott. Subs not used: Neal, Chilvers, Whaley, Mellor.