PNE 2 Doncaster Rovers 2
Jermaine Beckford grabbed a last gasp equaliser for the Lilywhites to send North End into the top two after Doncaster had come from behind in the final ten minutes.
Daniel Johnson made it four goals in as many games to give the Lilywhites an early lead but Harry Forrester and Curtis Main looked to have given Rovers the win with goals in the last ten minutes.
However, substitute Beckford volleyed home in the last minute of five added on to give his side a vital point and keep the unbeaten run going, sending the fans wild.
Manager Simon Grayson brought skipper Tom Clarke back into the side, with Scott Wiseman dropping to the bench in the only change for the Lilywhites.
The visitors started brightly and Abdul Razak forced former team-mate Sam Johnstone into a smart early stop om four minutes, the ball pushed wide for a corner.
However, North End were ahead before the quarter hour mark and it was Johnson again. It was the Lilywhites’ first shot of the game; well-worked into the box from the left, Gallagher and Robinson feeding Johnson, who powered a low shot in off the right hand post into the back of the net from the left hand corner of the box.
North End were having to play on the counter and Chris Humphrey and Callum Robinson’s pace were the major outlets.
On the 35 minute mark Humphrey broke down the right from a sublime Garner ball, he got to the byline and pulled it back to Garner, whose shot deflected off Rovers captain Andy Butler putting it into side-netting.
The resulting corner went all way through the box, flicked on by Bailey Wright and then back in from Gallagher and ultimately Johnson, but Joe Garner headed wide from the penalty spot.
But after the break the visitors pressed North End and two substitutes combined to level matters with eight minutes left.
James Coppinger broke from the right and danced into the box, going past three players before pulling it across to Harry Forrwester, who fired hard and low to Sam Johnstone’s right through a crowd of players, giving the keeper no chance.
And two minutes later they were ahead. This time Reece Wabara got down the right hand side and delivered a deep cross and Curtis Main rose highest and powered a header into the top right hand corner.
North End pressed to get back in to the game and Huntingtion back-heeled a Laird corner into the six yard box, but the ball ricocheted off John Welsh and behind for a goal kick.
Five minutes were added on by official Dean Whitestone and in the third minute a Paul Huntington Volley was superbly blocked by Andy Butler but it was kept alive…
And the ball kept coming into the box and eventually came out to the right hand side and Jermaine Beckford hit a beautiful volley back across the goalkeeper and into the bottom left and corner to send North End fans into ecstasy.
PNE line-up: Johnstone, Clarke (c), Laird, Welsh, Wright, Huntington, Humphrey, Johnson, Garner (K Davies, 79), Robinson (Beckford, 85), Gallagher (Kilkenny, 69). Subs not used: Stuckmann, Wiseman, Reid, Ebanks-Blake.
Doncaster Rovers line-up: Bywater, Furman (Coppinger, 65), Razak (Forrester, 57), Main, McCullough, Tyson, Butler (c), Stevens, Keegan (Ikpeazu, 72), Wellens, Wabara. Subs not used: Marosi, McCombe, T Robinson, Bennett.
Attendance: 8,703 (333 away fans)
Referee: Mr D Whitestone
Daniel Johnson made it four goals in as many games to give the Lilywhites an early lead but Harry Forrester and Curtis Main looked to have given Rovers the win with goals in the last ten minutes.
However, substitute Beckford volleyed home in the last minute of five added on to give his side a vital point and keep the unbeaten run going, sending the fans wild.
Manager Simon Grayson brought skipper Tom Clarke back into the side, with Scott Wiseman dropping to the bench in the only change for the Lilywhites.
The visitors started brightly and Abdul Razak forced former team-mate Sam Johnstone into a smart early stop om four minutes, the ball pushed wide for a corner.
However, North End were ahead before the quarter hour mark and it was Johnson again. It was the Lilywhites’ first shot of the game; well-worked into the box from the left, Gallagher and Robinson feeding Johnson, who powered a low shot in off the right hand post into the back of the net from the left hand corner of the box.
North End were having to play on the counter and Chris Humphrey and Callum Robinson’s pace were the major outlets.
On the 35 minute mark Humphrey broke down the right from a sublime Garner ball, he got to the byline and pulled it back to Garner, whose shot deflected off Rovers captain Andy Butler putting it into side-netting.
The resulting corner went all way through the box, flicked on by Bailey Wright and then back in from Gallagher and ultimately Johnson, but Joe Garner headed wide from the penalty spot.
But after the break the visitors pressed North End and two substitutes combined to level matters with eight minutes left.
James Coppinger broke from the right and danced into the box, going past three players before pulling it across to Harry Forrwester, who fired hard and low to Sam Johnstone’s right through a crowd of players, giving the keeper no chance.
And two minutes later they were ahead. This time Reece Wabara got down the right hand side and delivered a deep cross and Curtis Main rose highest and powered a header into the top right hand corner.
North End pressed to get back in to the game and Huntingtion back-heeled a Laird corner into the six yard box, but the ball ricocheted off John Welsh and behind for a goal kick.
Five minutes were added on by official Dean Whitestone and in the third minute a Paul Huntington Volley was superbly blocked by Andy Butler but it was kept alive…
And the ball kept coming into the box and eventually came out to the right hand side and Jermaine Beckford hit a beautiful volley back across the goalkeeper and into the bottom left and corner to send North End fans into ecstasy.
PNE line-up: Johnstone, Clarke (c), Laird, Welsh, Wright, Huntington, Humphrey, Johnson, Garner (K Davies, 79), Robinson (Beckford, 85), Gallagher (Kilkenny, 69). Subs not used: Stuckmann, Wiseman, Reid, Ebanks-Blake.
Doncaster Rovers line-up: Bywater, Furman (Coppinger, 65), Razak (Forrester, 57), Main, McCullough, Tyson, Butler (c), Stevens, Keegan (Ikpeazu, 72), Wellens, Wabara. Subs not used: Marosi, McCombe, T Robinson, Bennett.
Attendance: 8,703 (333 away fans)
Referee: Mr D Whitestone