2:40pm Wednesday 13th August 2008
Preston North End left it late against Chesterfield last night to seal a place in the Carling Cup Second Round for the first time in four years.
North End dominated from kick-off with Ross Wallace, making his home debut, looking particularly lively, tormenting the Chesterfield defence at every opportunity.
Despite Preston’s incise passing, the Chesterfield back line looked resolute with PNE’s first real opportunity only coming after the quarter of an hour mark after a nice turn and shot from Karl Hawley was palmed away by the Chesterfield keeper.
The Preston forward then found himself alone on goal on the 23rd minute but to the frustration of the fans was again unable to convert after good intricate play between Nicolson and Mellor.
Indeed, there was an underlying tension at Deepdale that it could have been one of those nights, especially as Chesterfield continued to make Andy Lonergan work on their few forges forward.
Thankfully such fears were dispelled just past the half hour mark as PNE broke the deadlock.
Quick thinking by Paul McKenna at a free-kick released Wallace who struck a sweet cross onto the head of Hawley. The Chesterfield keeper did well to palm the ball but Mellor was quickest to react to stick it in for North End.
Chesterfield came out brighter in the second half as they chased an equaliser and a potential cup shock with Jamie Ward curling a shot just passed the post.
Jack Lester then had a drilled shot that looked goal-bound which Billy Jones did well to block.
Despite Preston having the better of the game, at 1-0 there was always the fear that Chesterfield could get a lucky equaliser against the run of play.
Fans and players alike seemed to sense this as Preston pushed on looking for an equaliser. Hawley and Mellor exchanged passes before the former was adjudged to be fouled by what looked like the last Chesterfield defender.
Fortunately for the visitors they escaped with only a free-kick to defend at the edge of the penalty box which Wallace just missed from.
McKenna, brimming with confidence from his goal at Portman Road was influential all night and had a similar effort from the one on Saturday sail just over the bar.
However, Chesterfield could still not be put to bed and their best chance came in the final ten minutes as Paul Harsley rattled the crossbar with Lonergan beaten.
Sensing the danger Preston raced clear down the other end with Hawley unable to connect to a Mellor cross while Mellor himself hitting the post.
With three minutes of stoppage time still to play there was still nervousness until man of the match Neil Mellor grabbed his second of the night after a driving move forward from Darren Carter.
After the match there was relief that Preston had overcame a potential banana skin with manager Alan Irvine also full of praise for Neil Mellor.
He said: “I didn't expect it to be easy and the first battle that you've got is to make sure that you prepare yourselves properly. We did that and then we had to talk to the players about getting themselves ready for it mentally more than anything, because everybody expects the Championship teams to win.”
On Mellor he added: “Neil Mellor is a predator; he's someone who comes alive in and around the box. He's a finisher and he is desperate to score goals - he lives for it. He will be away feeling absolutely delighted about himself at this moment and you know that when he does get those chances, the likelihood is that he will finish them; he is very calm in front of goal.”
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