A last minute goal by Morecambe's Michael Twiss denied David Unsworth's side all three points in a game which was dominated by the Lilywhites at the QED stadium.
Preston took the lead after an own goal by Morecambe defender James Tabernam but the Shrimps hit back in the second half through Aaron Taylor.
North End then took the lead again with a goal from Neil Dougan before Twiss grabbed an equaliser in the final minute of play to deny the home side an impressive victory.
The Lilywhites started the better team and showed their attacking intent straight from the off. They could have gone one up after seven minutes through Jamie Proctor. A through ball to Adam Barton was played to Proctor who volleyed straight at the Morecambe keeper from eight yards out.
Proctor again could have put his team in front, this time after 10 minutes, when great work down the right from full back Michael Hart and winger Danny Mayor created a cross which Barton headed on to Proctor who, eight yards out, shot straight at the keeper.
North End's defence were proving hard to beat forcing Morecambe to shoot from outside the area, very rarely threatening Dominic Comrie's goal.
The Shrimps could have bagged a goal in the 18th minute when Twiss forced a corner which resulted in a shot by Taylor producing a fine save from Comrie.
The first half was played at a high tempo and was very end to end. Both teams were attacking, looking for the opener. North End looked the most likely to score, it was just a matter of when they could produce the crucial final ball.
In the 32nd minute Comrie was again called into action after a shot from the edge of the area. Matty Poole was through on goal and drilled his shot but Comrie stood tall to deny a certain goal.
In reply, Preston went up the other end where a neat flick by Barton from a Ryan McGreevy touch was played to Proctor who again was eight yards out and again had his shot saved by Morecambe keeper Scott Davies.
In the 40th minute North End got the breakthrough with a little help. A cross from the right by Mayor was turned into his own net by defender Tabernam. Just before the break Dougan nearly made it two but his shot hit the bar.
North End started the second half just as they ended the first, attacking. A cross from the right was missed by McGreevy which allowed Dougan to have a shot but his strike was saved.
Morecambe replied in the 57th minute when a through ball was misjudged by Comrie who came sprinting out of his goal. Morecambe striker Taylor was first to the ball, took it round Comrie and passed into an empty net.
The Lilywhites reacted well to this, in particular Proctor, who went on a surging run looking for a second. He picked the ball up on the left wing beating three men to create space for a shot but his shot went wide of the post.
Morecambe were still finding it hard to break down the North End defence and were shooting from outside the area, never really threatening Comrie's goal.
Three minutes before the end, winger Dougan put his team 2-1 up. Barton switched the ball from left to right where Mayor beat a defender to drill a ball across the face of goal and Dougan arrived at the back post to tap the ball in.
In stoppage time, just as the game seemed over, North End gave away a free kick. This was flicked on by a Morecambe head to Wayne Curtis, who played the ball into the path of Twiss who tapped in at the back post.
After the match, manager David Unsworth said: "It was a disappointing result. We played some good stuff, had lots of possession and created plenty of chances. The only thing letting us down was our quality. We lacked quality in the final third."
He went on to say: "We had enough chances to win two games. If you don't take your chances the opposition will, and that's what happened. The game should have been dead and buried in the first half."
Report by Josh Engleman. Photographs by Andrew Stunell / Lenscap Photography
