Nostalgia match: Preston North End's win at Rochdale in 1995 when keeper John Vaughan was star of the show

Preston left-back Terry Fleming has his shirt tugged in the 1-0 win over Rochdale at Spotland in April 1995

Despite being on the back foot for long spells in the Easter Monday rain at Spotland, the Lilywhites came away with three points thanks to Simon Davey’s goal in the 38th minute.

Either side of that fine finish from Davey, they had Vaughan to thank.

The keeper pulled off save after save to hold Rochdale at bay and keep a second successive clean sheet.

Preston defender Jamie Squires challenges in the Rochdale box, watched by team-mates Matt Carmichael and Allan Smart

At the final whistle, PNE manager Gary Peters ran on to the pitch and headed straight for Vaughan to congratulate him.

The large North End away following which outnumbered the home support in a crowd of 4,012 also chanted the keeper’s name in recognition of a job very well done.

Victory pushed them closer to a play-off place, this an 11th game unbeaten.

Under Peters, who had stepped-up to replace John Beck as manager four months earlier, North End had undergone a revival.

PNE midfielder Ian Bryson challenges for the ball against Rochdale

Just 48 hours after beating Wigan 1-0 at Deepdale, Preston made their way to Spotland for a second Easter fixture.

It rained from start to finish, the pitch was heavy to say the least, but Peters’ men got the job done.

They were missing their skipper David Moyes from the centre of defence.

His place went to Jamie Squires, who partnered Ryan Kidd at the back.

Paul Raynor shields the ball from a Rochdale defender

Both were excellent, as were full-backs Andy Fensome and Terry Fleming.

The star of the show was behind that backline, Vaughan having one of those afternoons when everything he touched went his way.

In the 11th minute he pulled off a triple save in a penalty box scramble to deny Dean Martin, Steve Whitehall and Darren Ryan.

Vaughan saved a header from Phil Butler under the bar after quarter of an hour.

In the 27th minute he dived to push away Whitehall’s header.

Two minutes after that, Vaughan dived to get a glove to a 20-yard shot from Mark Stuart.

Later in the game, he made another save to deny Jason Pearce.

North End’s winner came in the 38th minute, Lee Cartwright turning the ball out to Allan Smart down the right-wing.

Smart cut in field and put in a cross which found Davey on the edge of the box.

The midfielder took the ball on his chest, turned and fired a shot past Rochdale keeper Chris Clarke into the far top corner.

Later in the game there were chances for North End to score another and make life a little more comfortable.

Sub Graham Lancashire charged down a clearance from Clarke, but the keeper recovered to grab the ball.

Then Cartwright saw a shot from distance slip through the gloves of Clarke but stop dead on the muddy goalline.

PNE: Vaughan, Fensome, Squires, Kidd, Fleming, Cartwright, Davey, Bryson, Raynor, Smart (Lancashire), Carmichael (Conroy). Sub (not used): Richardson.