Preston North End were held to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining night of football at Deepdale but will have left with the feeling that they could have claimed all three points following a second half of domination.

North End had a number of chances to clinch all three points in a superb second half performance, the majority of them created by young super-sub Danny Mayor who put on a virtuoso display on the left flank and created some guilt-edged opportunities.

Mayor was on after North End had fought their way back into the match after the visitors had opened the scoring during purple patch for Sean O'Driscoll's side midway through the first half, James Hayter volleying home after 29 minutes.

But Preston battled back and grabbed a precious goal just before the break when Youl Mawene squared for Neil Mellor to poke home from just two yards out.

The game could have swung back in Doncaster's favour early in the second half, the referee awarded a soft looking penalty when Sean St. Ledger tangled with James Chambers inside the box. Andy Lonergan showed exactly why he is regarded as one of the best glovesmen outside of the Premiership when he guessed correctly to push away Billy Sharp's well taken spot-kick.

Danny Mayor was introduced after the penalty miss and the youth team product showed exactly why he is regarded as one of the brightest prospects for years. Playing on the left flank he cut inside onto his favoured right foot at every opportunity and created two real chances that manager Darren Ferguson will feel that should have been slotted away. The first played into the feet of Jon Parkin six-yards out, the big man did well to spin his marker but Neil Sullivan pulled off an instinctive reflex save to deny North End. The second good chance came with just one minute of normal time to play, Mayor surging down the middle of the park, calmly slotted the ball into the path of the onrushing Matty James, James' finish just lacked the power to find the back of the net.

James was one of two players to miss out after the 1-1 draw at Plymouth, the injured Ross Wallace was also a casualty with Paul Coutts and Chris Sedgwick returning to the side. North End also included Callum Davidson on the bench and he would be called into action earlier than expected after Tom Williams hobbled off early on.

The first half chance of the evening fell the way of the Lilywhites. Neil Mellor played himself into space in the left channel and after taking the ball to the byline lobbed the ball towards the six-yard box where Richard Chaplow arrived late but still but in a body check on keeper Neil Sullivan as both players went for the ball.

North End had started brightly and seconds after that first chance Paul Coutts slipped Jon Parkin into the box, unfortunately the ball wouldn't fall on to Parkin's favoured right boot and he was forced into a shot with his weaker left foot, which Sullivan saved at his near post.

Ten minute into the match and Keith Treacy played a tantalising ball across the face of goal. The ball went beyond Neil Sullivan at the front post and flashed across the six yard box but there was not a PNE man around to take advantage of the danger and James O'Connor was forced to turn it behind for a corner.

North End were almost caught out on the counter-attack in the 15th minute when Billy Sharp surged down the middle and created a two-v-two. Sharp played the ball out to Emmanuel-Thomas to his right and the Arsenal loanee curled the ball around St. Ledger but the ball also flew well wide of the post.

Sean St. Ledger had Andy Lonergan to thank in the 20th minute when Jay Emmanuel-Thomas' long throw bounced in the area and St. Ledger had to would-be Doncaster finishers lurking behind him so had to take evasive action, heading the ball towards his own goal from close range. Lonergan's quick reactions prevented an own goal.

James Chambers turned provider in the 25th minute when he was afforded acres of space out on the right flank. Sedgwick went across to cover and that allowed Emmanuel-Thomas to drift inside the box unmarked, Emmanuel-Thomas was found and he poked a low shot at goal which Lonergan got an arm to, Youl Mawene forced the ball behind with his head.

Andy Lonergan pulled off a fine save in the 28th minute of the match. Gareth Roberts hitting an effort from 25-yards out in front of goal, it took a deflection and Lonergan almost had to change direction in mid-air to parry the ball behind for a corner.

It was from that corner kick that the first goal of the game arrived. The ball was played out to the edge of the area and O'Connor played a low ball back into the box where James Hayter hit the ball first time on the volley, a sweetly struck effort into the bottom corner.

North End almost found themselves 2-0 down moments later. Emmanuel-Thomas had Billy Jones isolated on the left flank and he drilled a low ball towards the penalty spot where Hayter once again was lurking unmarked, Hayter shot was well blocked by Mawene.

Preston were forced into an early substitution in the 35th minute when Tom Williams limped off to be replaced by Callum Davidson.

The first yellow card of the game went the way of Doncaster with James Chambers booked for a late challenge on Sean St. Ledger who was on one of his majestic runs from central defence.

It was from that free-kick that North End got themselves back into the game. Paul Coutts clipped the ball into the box, Chris Sedgwick missed a chance to poke the ball towards goal but Mawene arrived from nowhere at the back stick to drill the ball across goal. They were queuing up in the middle and Neil Mellor had the simplest of tap-ins to make the scores level.

Mark Wilson was the second booking of the game. He just clipped the heels of Neil Mellor as the former Liverpool man had tipped the ball into space behind the high Doncaster defensive line.

Doncaster were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute of the match. James Chambers ran onto a ball in the penalty box and was goalside of Sean St. Ledger, the two players challenged for the ball as it bounced high into the air but Chambers went sprawling and the referee deemed it a penalty!

Billy Sharp stepped up to take the spot kick and he sent it to Lonergan's right, but the keeper was equal to the strike, guessing correctly and parrying the ball away to safety.

Danny Mayor came on for Keith Treacy in the 58th minute of the match.

Mayor had a positive influence with almost his first touch of the ball. The Lilywhites broke on the counter when Sedgwick found Mayor in acres of space on the left, Mayor played the ball first time to the edge of the box and Mellor took one touch before attempting to curl the ball inside the post.

Mellor had another fantastic opportunity in the 64th minute of the match. A huge punt up field was brought down by the beefy chest of Jon Parkin and Mellor had a clear sight at goal. He could maybe have take a touch but he opted to shoot first time and Neil Sullivan was down low to keep the ball out.

Sullivan was at his best in the 75th minute of the match and again the chance came from fine football from Danny Mayor on the left. The PNE youngster cut in from the left flank and played the ball in to the feet of Parkin who had his back to goal on the edge of the six-yard box. Parkin managed to turn his man and had a clear sight at goal , he smashed his shot at goal but Sullivan stuck out his arm instinctively and he managed to parry the ball away to safety.

Mayor was provider yet again on 89 minutes. A surging run down the centre of the park, the Doncaster defence failed to close him down and allowed him to slot the ball through to Matty James who 12 yards out had only the keeper to beat. James could find no power with his effort though and Sullivan saved comfortably to his left.

Mayor's cameo and Callum Davidson's return to action were enough to lift the spirits of the side and keep them upbeat in readyness for North End's big game against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.