Memory match: Luton Town undone by Preston North End new boy Tony Lormor

Lormor had joined the Lilywhites from Chesterfield in the build-up to the game in a swap deal which saw David Reeves move the other way.

He opened the scoring just 16 minutes into his bow and had a hand in North End’s two other goals as they won 3-1.

With Lormor’s stay only involving 20 appearances and lasting eight months, it was something of an ‘I was there’ moment for the PNE fans who travelled to Bedfordshire.

Lee Ashcroft was chosen alongside Lormor for the game in preference to Kurt Nogan and Jon Macken.

He certainly benefited from the physical presence next him, scoring North End’s third goal late on.

In between, David Eyres got the second goal as Gary Peters’ side won on the road in the league for only the second time that season.

This overdue victory came after four straight defeats which had piled the pressure on Peters.

North End went close to scoring with just 40 seconds on the clock.

Gary Parkinson launched a long ball into the box which Lormor challenged for with Hatters keeper Kelvin Davis.

The ball dropped wide to Ashcroft, his low cross met by Eyres who put a shot inches wide of the target.

Lormor put a header wide in the sixth minute and saw Davis pull off a save to deny him in a bright opening. He got his sights right when giving PNE the lead slap bang in front the away end where 300 travelling Preston fans were gathered.

Michael Appleton’s pass played with clinical precision found Mark Rankine on the edge of the box.

Rankine chested down and fed the ball into the path of Lormor, who drilled home a low shot.

Luton were level within nine minutes, Tony Thorpe scoring at the far post after Gary Waddock had got to the byline and put over a low cross.

After recent results, the PNE fans must have feared for their side but they went on to grow in strength.

Rankine got put clear by Sean Gregan’s pass but hit a tame shot which rolled through to the keeper.

North End regained their advantage in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Lormor found space down the side of the box and seemed to scuff his shot.

The ball travelled across the face of goal into the path of winger Eyres who clipped a shot into the net next to the far post.

Early in the second half, it needed a save from keeper Tepi Moilanen to prevent Michael Jackson turning the ball into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross.

Moilanen pulled off a fine save to push out a deflected shot from Hatters right-back Graham Alexander – a player who would end up at PNE 15 months later.

North End were hanging on but stayed strong and were able to score a third goal two minutes into time added on.

Lormor won a crunching tackle with Paul McLaren in his own half, the ball breaking to Eyres.

He spotted Ashcroft on the run and played a superb ball over the top to put him through on goal.

Ashcroft flicked the ball around Davis and rolled a shot into the empty net.

A defender’s late challenge caught him after he shot and the scorer had to be helped by to the side of the pitch by physio Mick Rathbone.

No pain, no gain, and PNE enjoyed this one.