A stunning Keith Treacy strike in the third minute of injury time completed a dramatic Preston comeback on a pulsating afternoon at Deepdale.

North End took the lead in the first half through Jon Parkin but then found themselves 2-1 down midway through the second half courtesy of a Gary Thompson double.

Nevertheless, a Billy Jones header in the 86th minute and then a sublime strike by Treacy deep into injury time ensured that the Lilywhites battled their way to a vital 3-2 victory against Scunthorpe and all but secure their Championship status for another season.

Darren Ferguson said that there would be big changes this week and the Preston manager didn't disappoint with Danny Mayor and Adam Barton making their full senior debuts for the Lilywhites. Another notable inclusion was youth team striker Jamie Proctor on the bench, with the youngster capping off a great week with an inclusion into the first team squad.

Lone striker for the day Parkin had the first chance of the game inside two minutes when the frontman used his strength to great affect before firing the ball over the crossbar.

A minute later saw the first meaningful chance of the game though for the visitors, but Andy Lonergan was alert and quickly at the feet of Gary Hooper to deny the striker hitting the target.

It was a lively start by both teams in what was a vital game for either side and Parkin was again at the brunt of the Preston attack in the tenth minute but the striker pulled his shot wide after being played through by Elliot Ward.

Both teams were working hard to retain the ball and Preston full back Jones had a mazy run in the 19th minute, running with the ball for three quarters of the pitch before laying the ball off to Treacy whose shot forced the first save of the game by Joe Murphy.

After the game was beginning to die out slightly, another mazy run this time by Treacy created the opening for the first goal of the afternoon.

Treacy came in from the left hand side, running into the heart of the Scunthorpe defense. The ball then fell kindly for the Irishman in the penalty area and Treacy delivered a cross into the six yard box which was nodded in by top scorer Parkin. There was a mix up between the Iron's centre halves but one thing that was for sure was that Parkin's 27th minute header fired the Lilywhites into the lead.

This goal sparked the game back into life again and the same combination of players almost forced a second for Preston but Parkin's header was gathered easily by Murphy.

Despite this early lead, North End were still having to be alert at the back and Lonergan was again called into action in the 35th minute. Fortunately for the Lilywhites, Lonergan was alert and pulled off a magnificent save from Grant McCann's volley.

Lonergan was excelling between the sticks and Parkin was certainly excelling up front and forced Murphy into action again in the 38th minute. North End displayed some beautiful link up play in the build-up play before Paul Coutts laid the ball into the front man's path, but Murphy was down quickly to his bottom right corner to palm away Parkin's placed effort.

Just before half time, Mayor showed the Deepdale crowd exactly what he is all about this time from the left hand side. The winger swapped flanks with Treacy, cutting inside from the left and forcing Murphy to tip the ball away for a corner.

At the start of the second half, there was a change for Preston with Barton making way for Neil Mellor. Mellor was installed up front as the Lilywhites reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation.

Mayor continued to operate from the left hand and both he and Treacy continued to threaten from the flanks. Treacy played in a fine right footed ball across the face of goal just after the restart, forcing substitute Josh Wright to poke the ball away for a corner.

The Irishman was now running the Scunthorpe defense ragged and Treacy forced another great save by Murphy in the 54th minute after cutting in from the left hand side.

This swap was causing the United defense a handful of problems and Mayor again merited Ferguson's faith in the youngster after his superb teasing ball was inches away from meeting Sean St. Ledger at the back post. The PNE wide players' pace was lighting up this second half and exciting the Deepdale crowd.

Preston continued to probe but there was a nightmare moment for North End in the 63rd minute when Thompson was gifted a goal. St. Ledger's back pass to Lonergan was short and capitalised by Thompson who slotted the ball under the Preston goalkeeper to get the game back on level terms.

Thompson couldn't believe his luck for the goal and his strike seemed to give Scunthorpe more belief after taking a battering at the back by the Preston frontline.

With twenty minutes remaining, North End again shifted through the gears and smart play by Mayor on the left hand side enabled the overlapping Davidson to deliver a cross to Parkin which the front man was just unable to steer away from goalkeeper Murphy.

However, despite all of North End's dominance, Thompson popped up with another goal in the 71st minute to stun Preston. McCann played in Thompson who nudged the ball past the advancing Lonergan, playing his shot past Ward with the ball bouncing in off of the post.

Scunthorpe's second goal was a real body blow for the Lilywhites but Treacy continued to lead the charge for Preston. Just inside the final ten minutes, Treacy beat two men and tried his luck from range but this shot was fired just wide.

As time was ticking on, Ferguson would have taken a goal from anywhere and Jones was on hand to nod in his fourth goal of the season. Substitute Mellor was able to force his way through two Scunthorpe defenders, his header was then spilled by Murphy but Jones arrived late to head the ball in and seemingly earn Preston a vital point.

The sponsor's man of the match was announced as Treacy and before he was able to pop off to receive his award, he popped up with a memorable strike, worthy of winning any game of football.

Treacy picked up the ball from Jones on the right hand side, cut inside on to his left foot and fired the ball into the top corner to cap off a fine individual performance and hand Preston a dramatic winner in the third minute of injury time.

This strike moved Preston clear of the danger zone to surely guarantee the Club Championship football next season.