PNE retro game: Dickson Etuhu is Preston North End's late hero at Grimsby Town in November 2002

With six minutes left the Lilywhites were trailing 3-1, having gifted the Mariners two of their goals through defensive errors.

They got their act together just in time though, Graham Alexander reducing the deficit from the penalty spot before Dickson Etuhu snatched an 88th minute equaliser.

North End manager Craig Brown found it hard to crack a smile afterwards despite the comeback.

What concerned him were the goals ‘crazily’ given away.

Brown was without Chris Lucketti and Colin Murdock from the centre of defence, with goalkeeper David Lucas having to pull out just 24 hours before the game with an arm injury.

North End went a goal down with just two minutes and 20 seconds played.

When a cross was lifted into the PNE penalty area, goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen came out to claim it.

However, team-mate Alexander lost his bearings and tried to cut the cross out, succeeding only in chesting it past his keeper.

Stuart Campbell could not believe his luck, able to walk the ball into an empty net with Moilanen stranded.

But even before that, PNE had threatened at the other end – Ricardo Fuller firing into the side-netting after just 58 seconds.

North End equalised in the 26th minute after being awarded a free-kick.

Alexander tried to take it quickly and Grimsby’s Alan Poulton blocked the attempt.

That earned Poulton a yellow card and the free-kick was moved forward 10 yards as was the rule then.

Alexander touched it sideways to Eddie Lewis who drove a low shot goalwards.

It caught a deflection in the box, Grimsby keeper Danny Coyne parried, with Richard Cresswell first to the rebound to score.

PNE looked the more likely side for a spell, with Fuller causing all kinds of issues for the home defence.

Yet it was the Mariners who stepped-up in the second half and looked to have put themselves in a winning position.

They regained the lead when Simon Ford got in front of Moilanen to head a cross into the net.

Then in the 80th minute, Darren Mansaram produced a fine finish from the edge of the box to make it 3-1.

Preston weren’t beaten though, the fight back starting in the 84th minute.

Fuller chased a back pass into the box, Ford knocking him off balance and giving away a penalty.

Up stepped Alexander to beat Coyne from the spot.

Two minutes from time, the visitors equalised.

Lewis’ corner from the left travelled beyond the far post where Michael Jackson climbed to head it back into the middle. Etuhu reacted quickly to dart forward and nod the ball home.

PNE: Moilanen, Alexander, Jackson, Broomes, Edwards, Skora (Healy 67), Etuhu, McKenna, Lewis, Fuller, Cresswell. Subs (not used): Rankine, Abbott, Cartwright, Lonergan.

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