Retro game: When Kurt Nogan fired Preston North End to victory over York City in January 1999

Kurt Nogan celebrates scoring Preston North End's winner at York City in January 1999

It was a ground which Preston North End visited only six times, the last of those on January 9, 1999.

Kurt Nogan scored PNE’s winner that chilly afternoon, it one of five successive victories in the league as they chased promotion.

It was a seventh away win from 12 outings for David Moyes’ side that season, one which delighted the 2,400-strong travelling support who had crossed the Pennines.

PNE right-back Gary Parkinson goes in with two York players - one of them future North End striker Richard Cresswell

This game came five days after North End had given Arsenal a big fright in the FA Cup at Deepdale.

They raced into a 2-0 lead through a Nogan double, but the Gunners came back to win 4-2, three of their goals coming after David Eyres’ red card had reduced PNE to 10 men.

If some of their football against Arsenal had been a joy to the eye, Preston had to show their battling side when taking on the Minstermen.

At times they really had to dig in and defend, Richard Cresswell in the York attack giving PNE centre-half Colin Murdock a tough afternoon.

PNE defender Colin Murdock competes in the air at York

North End chairman Bryan Gray and his deputy Derek Shaw had taken the opportunity to make a £500,000 bid for Cresswell to their York counterparts at the game.

It was turned down and Cresswell was to play for both Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester before PNE finally got their hands on him in March 2001.

Chances were few and far between for either side in the first half.

Paul McKenna, Ryan Kidd and Jonathan Macken all had sights of goal but failed to trouble former Lilywhites keeper Bobby Mimms in the York goal.

York midfielder Mark Tinkler clashes with PNE's Michael Jackson and Michael Appleton, leading to him getting a red card

A huge moment in the contest came on the stroke of half-time when York’s Mark Tinkler was sent-off.

Tinkler had slid in studs showing on Michael Appleton. Picking himself off the floor, Appleton made his feelings known to Tinkler.

The York man responded by pushing Appleton in the chest, referee Mike Jones showing him a yellow card for the tackle and then for the push, before producing the red card.

After half-time a couple of chances fell Nogan’s way but it was York who responded to the challenge of playing with a man less and began to get the upper hand.

Cresswell, playing as a lone striker, led the York line well and a couple of times drew fouls from Murdock.

So it was rather against the run of play when North End scored their winner in the 70th minute.

Appleton’s pass found Macken, who turned and slipped a delightful pass behind the York defence for Nogan to chase.

Nogan reached it and from the edge of the box steered a great finish round Mimms, celebrating by jumping on the fence in front of the away end.

PNE: Lucas, Parkinson, Jackson, Murdock, Kidd (Harris 46), Appleton, Rankine, McKenna, Eyres, Macken, Nogan. Subs (not used): Moyes, Byfield.

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