Preston North End have been named Team of the Round for their area quarter-final victory over Oldham Athletic.
A thrilling penalty shoot-out victory which ended with goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann striking the winner has earned Preston North End a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy award.
The Lilywhites beat Oldham Athletic 10-9 on penalties at Boundary Park after the area quarter-final tie had finished 2-2.
Supporters of both sides were on the edge of their seats during one of the longest shoot-outs in the history of the competition, which concluded with Stuckmann smashing his 12 yard effort into the middle of the goal after his counterpart Neil Etheridge had blazed over.
And the success has earned Simon Grayson’s Preston North End the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Team of the Round prize.
Preston have of course gone on to dispatch of Notts County since then, a Paul Huntington goal booking PNE’s place in the two legged area final against Walsall.
As well as winning a trophy, Preston will also receive a prize of Johnstone’s Paint products to use on a Club project.
Grayson said: “The run that we have been on is very good and we have been taking this competition very serious from the start.
“With a Wembley appearance just two games away now, we are delighted to have got to where we have done.”
Territory Manager Jo Pitts from Johnstone’s Paint handed over the team of the round award to the North End gaffer, in the presence of the trophy the winning captain will get his hands on in three games time.
And the manager was impressed by the visual presence of the silverware.
“The trophy is bigger than some of the players! joked Grayson.
“Any competition where there is a place at Wembley and trophies available is one we will take very seriously, but we have two tough games against Walsall and we will be doing our upmost to try and get to the final.”
Earlier in the night, Preston had taken the lead through Scott Laird before a treble half-time substitution from home manager Lee Johnson turned the game on its head.
Dominic Poleon drew Oldham level within a minute of the re-start and then Danny Philliskirk put the hosts in front.
Tom Clarke got Preston back on level terms with ten minutes to go – and it was the visitors who went on to secure glory in the shoot-out.
Ben Wilde, brand and sponsorship manager for Johnstone’s Paint, said: “There were some excellent performances in the area quarter-finals, including Tranmere winning at Bury and Walsall beating Sheffield United, so it was a really tough decision.
“But the drama of the penalty shoot-out tipped the balance in favour of Preston.
“It’s not often that you see a goalkeeper wheeling away to celebrate a goal.”
Johnstone’s Paint is now in its ninth season of bringing colour to the beautiful game through its sponsorship of the Football League Trophy.
The Lilywhites beat Oldham Athletic 10-9 on penalties at Boundary Park after the area quarter-final tie had finished 2-2.
Supporters of both sides were on the edge of their seats during one of the longest shoot-outs in the history of the competition, which concluded with Stuckmann smashing his 12 yard effort into the middle of the goal after his counterpart Neil Etheridge had blazed over.
And the success has earned Simon Grayson’s Preston North End the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Team of the Round prize.
Preston have of course gone on to dispatch of Notts County since then, a Paul Huntington goal booking PNE’s place in the two legged area final against Walsall.
As well as winning a trophy, Preston will also receive a prize of Johnstone’s Paint products to use on a Club project.
Grayson said: “The run that we have been on is very good and we have been taking this competition very serious from the start.
“With a Wembley appearance just two games away now, we are delighted to have got to where we have done.”
Territory Manager Jo Pitts from Johnstone’s Paint handed over the team of the round award to the North End gaffer, in the presence of the trophy the winning captain will get his hands on in three games time.
And the manager was impressed by the visual presence of the silverware.
“The trophy is bigger than some of the players! joked Grayson.
“Any competition where there is a place at Wembley and trophies available is one we will take very seriously, but we have two tough games against Walsall and we will be doing our upmost to try and get to the final.”
Earlier in the night, Preston had taken the lead through Scott Laird before a treble half-time substitution from home manager Lee Johnson turned the game on its head.
Dominic Poleon drew Oldham level within a minute of the re-start and then Danny Philliskirk put the hosts in front.
Tom Clarke got Preston back on level terms with ten minutes to go – and it was the visitors who went on to secure glory in the shoot-out.
Ben Wilde, brand and sponsorship manager for Johnstone’s Paint, said: “There were some excellent performances in the area quarter-finals, including Tranmere winning at Bury and Walsall beating Sheffield United, so it was a really tough decision.
“But the drama of the penalty shoot-out tipped the balance in favour of Preston.
“It’s not often that you see a goalkeeper wheeling away to celebrate a goal.”
Johnstone’s Paint is now in its ninth season of bringing colour to the beautiful game through its sponsorship of the Football League Trophy.