My tactic were to keep a strong midfield line hence the inclusion of Tim in there and take the game to Sheffield with Jason and Chris working down the middle, but Sheffield were a strong team and they counter acted this by missing out midfield and playing the ball over the top of our back four and this tactic paid off as they broke through us on numerous occasion.

Their first goal was always coming and it was quality goal when it came the ball played over the top of Pete was picked up by their forward and he drew the advancing keeper before chipping over him and into the empty net. 1-0 Sheffield United.

We were struggling to make any impact on the strong United back line and it would need something really special to get us back in the game, and we got it! Young John, Alex' mate picked up a loose ball 30 yards from the Sheffield goal took one touch looked up and drilled in a beauty in the top left hand corner, Absolute quality no matter what level you play at this was a special goal and came out of nothing.

It was now Preston who gains the upper hand and another quality goal saw us go 2-1 in front. Pete took a free kick half way inside the Sheffield half and delivered a great ball in. Chris Chambers who had pulled away from his marker timed his jump to perfection and directed a bullet header across the advancing keeper and high into the roof of the net a brilliant header by Chris 2-1 to Preston. The ref finally ended a great first half of football by both sides

2-1 half time.

United must have had one hell of team talk as within 5 mins of the restart we found ourselves 3-2 down. We were shell shocked to say the least but if there is one thing we know and that is no matter what happens you’ve always got to keep your shape and your discipline. It was this approach that saw us gradually get back into the gamer and we began to push the Sheffield team back into their own half but I new it would need another bit of quality to get us back on level terms.

Chris Chambers working himself a bit of room on the left hand side touchline played a peach of a ball into the path of young John who had burst forward from midfield to support is front two, John caught another beauty as he drilled his cross shot across the advancing keeper and into the back of the net 3-3 and it was game on as both sides went for it.

The game went from one end to the other and there were a lot of tired legs as we went into the final 15 mins. But we were looking the stronger team and with 10 mins to go a neat interchanging of passes between Chris and Jason saw Chris burst through on goal, Chris managed to get his shot away before he was hit from both sides by the covering united defenders.

Chris's shot struck the outstretched leg of the one of these players and took a wicked deflection and as result complete deceived the onrushing united keeper to find its way in the opposite corner of the net 4-3 Preston. The ref played a further four minutes injury time before finally blowing his whistle to end what had been a great game of football between two good sides.

It was a great victory for us considering the team we had out and we were all completely shattered after the game. The pitch was quality and so was the result. Sheffield is a strong team and has some real quality players so to beat them on their own patch was a fantastic result for us.

Massive thanks to Danny the Sheffield United Manager. All 22 players were a credit to their clubs. There were some fierce tackles going in but the game was always fair and the ref made sure that's the way it staid.

Massive thanks to all my players especially the new lads and Skora who did a great job at left back. John the new lad was quality and it was good we had him. Tim was awesome for us in midfield and deserved his man of the match award. It was also good to get Dayle Des and Jimmy on who all did what we asked of them and all played their part.

Well done guys really proud of you all.