4-5

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I don't think I have ever been involved in a game of football like the one that took place in Leicester this morning! There was no way back for us when Leicester 4th goal went in yet my lads never threw the towel in, never tried to do anything other than what were good at which is moving the ball from back to front quickly and unbelievably we came back from 4-1 down with 20 mins to go to win the game 5-4.

At any level of football to come back from that score line when they’re 10 bodies in front of you and a goalkeeper that should be playing at a higher level makes the win even more incredible!

We arrived in Leicester 10 mins before kick off which was 9-30 due to Leicester City game against Millwall being brought forward to 1pm kick of on advice from the police. It was beautiful crisp autumn morning in Leicestershire and the overnight rain and brought out a rich green colour in the pitches which were in magnificent condition. We were playing at the place were Gary Linker first put on a pair of football boots.

The Leicester lads were waiting for us and looked the part in their full Leicester City kit. Looking across at the opposition as I always do I new it would be a real challenge for us today. They had some big lads playing who obviously play football on a regular basis.

Kicking of we took the game to the opposition as we always do but before we had got our bearings we were 1-0 down which quickly turned into 2-0 down. This was unfamiliar territory for us and we were stunned to say the least especially as we had most of the possession, but Leicester lads were no mugs and they were always looking to break on us when they had chance. 2-0 soon turned to 3-0 and I new I had to do something urgent to try and stop what was going on has another goal would probably mean no way back for us!

Des and young Bob the keeper of who had taken a knock left the field and Chris Hall and jimmy Atkinson came on with Wacker dropping back to left wing back to try and stop their right winger who had given Des a real hammering doing any more damage to us. Jimmy went up from with Stu dropping back into midfield with me.

We saw the rest of the half out and went in at the break still 3-0 down. Obviously everybody was pissed of and their was a few fingers being pointed around but in situations like that the main thing is regroup forget what's gone on and try and get things sorted so you have a chance of getting back into the game. We did that and the lads listen as tried to forget what had gone on started thinking about how we could make more of an impression on the Leicester City team.

We were struggling up front as Chris Chambers was like a dead man waking. I have never seen Chris like that before and it was a shock to all of us to see him in such a condition. He could easily have come off at half time but I made the decision to keep him on in the hope that we could get something out of before the end of the game.

I also told Gaz to go up front to try and give their back lads a few more problems as they had dealt comfortably with Chris and Stu for the entire first half. The team that started the second half was:-

Chris Hall
Jimmy Atkinson
Chris Chats
Alex Higgins
Atky
Jonny PNE
Steve Cowell
Stu Bolton
Wacker
Chris Chambers
Garth Marks

Subs
Des and Peschi

The last thing we said before the 2nd half commenced was lets try and get a bit of pride back by getting at least one goal and then we will take if from there. It wasn’t long before we did just that, Johnny PNE smashing one in of the inside of the post to finally beat the Leicester keeper. Game on we thought but in Leicester first attack their 4th and what we thought was the killer goal was headed in by the right winger we mentioned earlier who had caused us so many problems!

4-1 down with 25 mins to go, not much chance you would think and to be honest and I would never let it out I couldn’t see away back for us. Yet bizarrely the Leicester Manager went from a 4 4 2 formation which had dealt comfortably with what we had to offer for most of the game to a 3 5 2. He obviously wanted to kill the game of by swamping us in midfield.

To us however it meant that we could miss the midfield out and drop the ball over the top and down the flanks for Jonny PNE and Wacker to run on to It wasn’t long before one of the aforementioned people did just that! Johnny PNE latching on to long ball out of defence ran clear of their midfield before smashing an unstoppable shot in from 20 yards. The keeper had no chance as the ball changed directions with the force of the shot and left him groping fresh air as the ball flew past him high into the Leicester net. 4-2 to Leicester

There was now 15 mins to go and two good chances went begging and just when you thought the dream was over Gaz Marks using his weight to create a bit of space for himself on the edge of the box turned and smashed his shot in of the inside of the post 4-3 to Leicester.

We now smelt blood. The Leicester players had by now tense up and we just clearing their ball anywhere to try and get it out of their own half, but, back it came as we kept up the relentless pressure on them! It just had to come for us and with 7 mins remaining Wacker cutting in from the left was brought down just inside the box. Penalty!

We new we had to stop Chambers taking it and he didn't put up much of an argument as the ball was taken of him and placed on the spot. It was now a test of nerves between our penalty taker and the Leicester keeper. Some of our lads turn away as the ball was placed on the spot. It was a case of who would hold his nerve the most because we new that if we missed this there would probably be no way back for us! but it was us who proved the stronger as the ball buried it's self in the corner of the Leicester City net 4-4

I would have been more than happy with that score line but our lads had other ideas and finally Chambers did turn up!. Peeling away from his marker, Chambers picked up a long diagonal ball on the edge of the Leicester city penalty area near the corner flag. Chris loves this position and as he brushed away the challenge of the first Leicester City defender the other centre back came across to cover!

Fainting to shoot Chris ran along the edge of the penalty box on line with the penalty spot before pulling his shot back to were it had come from into the corner of the Leicester City net and with three minutes to go the impossible had turned into the possible; 5-4 to Preston! As the saying goes we went £ucking mental. The last three minutes went on for ever before the ref finally blew for full time.

We have been involved in some memorable games over the years but this one as to be right up there with the best of them? You can't put a price on memories of what happened to day. Thanks to all the lads who turned up. You did yourselves and the club.

Preston N E scorers were
Jonny PNE 2
Chris Chambers 1
Gareth Markes 1
Stephen Cowell 1 Pen

Man of the match Garth Marks