Paul Huntington scored on his first league start of the season to secure three points for PNE at a blustery Priestfield Stadium against Gillingham.
The central defender headed home Chris Humphrey’s cross for the only goal of the game as North End made it six wins on the spin.
Preston dominated throughout; hitting the woodwork four times, and the central defender was thrilled with how the game panned out for him and the team.
“I am really pleased, to get the three points most importantly,” said Huntington after the match.
“Conditions weren’t easy, it was really windy but it was a good team performance and it was great to be out there.
“I think first half it was difficult, it was into the wind and personally my timing was getting better as the game went on, but second half I felt good and I’m just pleased to get the win and to be out there with the lads.
“In the league it has obviously been a while and it was good to get the three points.
“As a team we have worked hard, it was never going to be easy and we kept the ball well towards the end of the game.
“Sometimes it can be a bit end to end towards the end of a game, especially away from home and in the conditions, but we done well and second half we could have had quite a few goals.
“We hit the ‘bar a few times and we could have been a bit more clinical, but it is three points and it keeps the run going.”
The goal was just reward for PNE and Huntington in particular who was immense throughout in a reshuffled back four, with Hunts partnering Jack King and Scott Laird deputising for Scott Wiseman at right back
who failed a fitness test prior to kick off.
Speaking of the goal and a chance he had just prior to finding the back of the net, Huntington added: “Chris Humphrey has picked me out at the back stick and I just headed it back across goal.
“I made eye contact with him, so I kind of knew it was coming.
“I had one five minutes before which I was just about to nod in and the ‘keeper got a touch to it and it forced me back a little bit and I couldn’t get the full purchase on it.
“I thought ‘is it going to be one of those days’, but with the second one in it was a great ball in by Chris Humphrey and I pulled off at the back stick and just headed across goal.
“It was a great feeling but more importantly we got the three points for the Club and the lads.”
Preston dominated throughout; hitting the woodwork four times, and the central defender was thrilled with how the game panned out for him and the team.
“I am really pleased, to get the three points most importantly,” said Huntington after the match.
“Conditions weren’t easy, it was really windy but it was a good team performance and it was great to be out there.
“I think first half it was difficult, it was into the wind and personally my timing was getting better as the game went on, but second half I felt good and I’m just pleased to get the win and to be out there with the lads.
“In the league it has obviously been a while and it was good to get the three points.
“As a team we have worked hard, it was never going to be easy and we kept the ball well towards the end of the game.
“Sometimes it can be a bit end to end towards the end of a game, especially away from home and in the conditions, but we done well and second half we could have had quite a few goals.
“We hit the ‘bar a few times and we could have been a bit more clinical, but it is three points and it keeps the run going.”
The goal was just reward for PNE and Huntington in particular who was immense throughout in a reshuffled back four, with Hunts partnering Jack King and Scott Laird deputising for Scott Wiseman at right back
who failed a fitness test prior to kick off.
Speaking of the goal and a chance he had just prior to finding the back of the net, Huntington added: “Chris Humphrey has picked me out at the back stick and I just headed it back across goal.
“I made eye contact with him, so I kind of knew it was coming.
“I had one five minutes before which I was just about to nod in and the ‘keeper got a touch to it and it forced me back a little bit and I couldn’t get the full purchase on it.
“I thought ‘is it going to be one of those days’, but with the second one in it was a great ball in by Chris Humphrey and I pulled off at the back stick and just headed across goal.
“It was a great feeling but more importantly we got the three points for the Club and the lads.”