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Barnsley 1 Preston NE 1
Preston ended 2008 still in the hunt for a play-off spot after battling back to earn a valuable point at Barnsley.
A sweetly struck free-kick from Ross Wallace after 73 minutes cancelled out Jamie Cureton's early opener for the Tykes and gave North End a well-deserved reward for a tough afternoon in South Yorkshire.
Alan Irvine's side played some delightful football at times and always looked capable of hauling themseles back into the game after Barnsley took the lead against the run of play after just 16 minutes.
A long free-kick launched into the Preston box was only cleared as far as Cureton and he lobbed it back over Andrew Lonergan into the net.
Stephen Elliott should have levelled before the interval when Barry Nicholson's cross found him six yards from goal, but his header was beaten away by keeper Heinz Muller.
The introduction of strike pair Neil Mellor and Jon Parkin gave North End more of a cutting edge in the final 25 minutes. And it was no more than the visitors deserved when they levelled 17 minutes from time.
Parkin was fouled on the edge of the Barnlsey box and Wallace bent the free-kick round everyone and beyond the reach of Muller into the right corner of the net to claim a point.
The opening quarter of an hour yielded few openings for either side, although Preston looked the more dangerous side moving forward.
Ross Wallace went on a surging run through the middle only to see his shot blocked on the edge of the Barnsley box.
And when the winger picked out Barry Nicholson outside the "D" with a right-wing corner the midfielder blazed high over the crossbar.
But with North End playing the crisper football the home side took the lead in the 16th minute against the run of play.
Kozluk floated a free-kick high into Preston's box from downfield, Youl Mawene managed to get his head to it, but the clearance only travelled as far as Cureton and the veteran striker lifted it over Andrew Lonergan into the net.
Chances continued to be at a premium with plenty of decent build-up play by both sides but hardly anything on the end of it.
Just after the half hour North End had a great chance to pull level, but Elliott failed to despatch it. Nicholson sent over a superb cross from the right which reached the
Republic of Ireland striker six yards out, but his downward header was too close to Heinz Muller and the keeper was able to parry, leaving Elliott holding his head in his hands in despair.
Skipper Paul McKenna prevented Barnsley from doubling their lead moments later when he whipped the ball of the toe of Jon Macken as he was about to shoot and then knocked it away from Cureton as he dashed in to finish off the rebound.
In the 36th minute Preston were caught on the break after a free-kick deep in the home half and fortunately full-back Kozluk blasted his shot wide of the target from 15 yards out.
A minute after the break Billy Jones let fly with a 30-yard screamer but the shot flashed wide of the left-hand post.
Richard Chaplow was brought down heavily just a foot outside the Barnsley area in the 53rd minute, but Wallace's normally deadly left foot pulled the free-kick inches the wrong side of the right-hand upright.
Preston had a scare on the hour mark when Anderson De Silva launched a 35-yard rocket which Lonergan just managed to get a finger to and the ball crashed back off the crossbar. Macken slid in but was unable to turn in the rebound.
Boss Irvine swapped his strikers after 64 minutes throwing on in the in-form Jon Parkin and top scorer Neil Mellor for the ineffective Brown and Elliott. And almost immediately North End carved Barnsley open with Parkin laying the ball off for Mellor to put in a shot which keeper Muller could only beat out for a corner.
Preston were now looking more dangerous in the final third than they had all afternoon and on 73 minutes their new-found cutting edge paid off.
McKenna floated a ball towards the Barnsley box, Stephen Foster could only foul Parkin as he tried to prevent the big striker getting his head to it and when Wallace took the free-kick from just outside the area he curled it beyond Muller's reach into the right-hand corner to level things up.
Mellor saw a shot on the volley well saved by Muller after a ricochet had fallen perfectly for him.
Earlier Alan Irvine kept his Barnsley chop promise when Preston crossed the Pennines for the second game of the Christmas double-header.
The North End boss made three changes to the side which beat Derby at Deepdale 48 hours earlier - two up front and one out wide.
Top scorer Neil Mellor and in-form Jon Parkin both stepped down to the bench to allow Chris Brown and Elliott a chance in attack.
Right-winger Chris Sedgwick was rested altogether from the 16. His place was taken by Nicholson.
Barnsley: Muller, Van Homoet, Foster, Moore, Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, De Silva, Leon, Cureton, Macken.
Substitutes: Colace, Odejayi, El Haimour, Souza, Rigters.
Preston North End: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St Ledger, Davidson, Nicholson, Chaplow, McKenna, Wallace, Elliott, Brown.
Substitutes: C Neal, Mellor, Parkin, Carter, Nolan.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
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