By pnefans.co.uk
April 17 2005

Northend consolidate their playoff position with a well earned 3-0 win at home to struggling Cardiff.....

In a frustrating first half not helped by awful decisions from the man in black, Preston were held to a half time draw with the best effort falling to Man of the Match David Nugent, a ball played across the box put Nugent clean through on goal but only to see his effort fly just over the bar.

The second half saw the referee calm down and Preston began to make more chances, the best chance up to now came when Eddie Lewis got passed his man and cut a ball back from the touchline across the box where both Nugent and Cresswell couldn't find the net and agonisingly Chris Sedgwicks effort was cleared off the line.

A chance then fell for Lewis himself and the deadlock was nearly broken but a fine save from Neil Alexander denied the Americans thunder strike and top scorer Cresswell could only fire the rebound over.

Finally the break through came on 69 minutes when a Cresswell cross was fired home off the bar from Nugent just outside the box.

Again Nugent found himself on the scoresheet this time another well spotted and clever ball in from Cresswell left Nugent one on one with the keeper and cooly he placed it to Alexanders left.

As Cardiff began to tire provider then turned goalscorer when Cresswell dispossed Cardiff defender Chris Barker and ran through on goal to place the ball across Alexander and into his bottom right of the goal, to make it three for Preston and punish some sloppy defending.

Preston could have made it four when new to the first team Tie probably should have gone for goal but he had obviously already made his mind up to head the ball back across the box, only for it to be cleared.

Another great performance from Nugent earned him Man of the Match and push his goal tally to seven for the season.