Preston North End 3, York City 2 GOTCHA!: City goalkeeper Mark Samways keeps a firm grip on the ball, as Preston's Michael Jackson is beaten to the ball, watched by Paul Stephenson (foreground)

By Tony Kelly

Suicidal defending applied a fatal hara-kiri slash to York City's run-in towards a chance of glory.

Any slim hopes of reaching the play-offs - and they were always anorexic - faded into oblivion after an afternoon of all disquiet on the Preston front.

Twice City scratched into the lead, twice they buckled to levellers. And then on a day of card-sharp, tip-top timing all around the country, City caved in at the death with hero Mark Samways deceived by a late-swerving lash from Preston right-back Gary Parkinson.To neutrals the game was captivating, to Preston the win was intoxicating, to City the result was exasperating.

Not for the first time they were at the root of their own downfall.

Over-reliant on the limbs of goalkeeper Mark Samways, they under-achieved when they actually held sway. And yet again they surrendered all initiative at the start of the second-half. Preston found momentum, City just foundered.

It was as if at half-time they'd imbibed Horlicks, or hot chocolate, laced with a sleeping draught. While they slept-strolled North End crept up on the Minstermen and yanked the game from under their boots.

City had not been over-impressive in the first-half, but at least they boasted the majority of menace. Had they capitalised on the cracking start given by Rodney Rowe's first League goal for more than four months City would have enjoyed their second away win in five days.

But a rocking rearguard, whose rickety nature increased in proportion to Tony Barras' debilitating groin discomfort, signally failed to offer any significant protection to the over-worked Samways.

And there was a distinct tardiness in the middle of the field to buttress the adrenaline-fuelled advances of the hosts.

That meant that for almost all of the second-half Samways stood like a fish in a barrel as Preston pot-shots rained down incessantly.

It was only a matter of time that even his cat-like alertness would be surpassed. The insult to Samways was that the eventual winner from long-range should be almost on his fists before deviating in orbit to rip into the rigging.

Deepdale's regulars could not have imagined such a wild, winning finale when City breached the Lilywhites' back-line with the first raid of the game.

Rowe was brought down near the corner flag by Parkinson and from the free-kick City were ahead. Paul Stephenson's delivery was deadly accurate as was Rowe's flick of his bonce. The sagging of home spirits was almost audible.

That was the time for City to pounce and put the game out of sight.

Three openings befell Richard Cresswell, who was unable to match the finishing-power he showed in one magical moment at Bristol Rovers.

Rowe too was denied, a sneaky downward header hoofed off the goal-line with the extravagant goalkeeping of Teuvo Moilanen adding to the home nervousness.

But Samways also signalled relief as a Parkinson thump hit an upright. And as the half wore on Barras grimaced with mounting distress with almost every touch, tackle or header. Around him team-mates peered anxiously over their shoulders at the skipper's chagrin adding to the overall edginess.

City veered over the edge like a bungee-jumper when the second-half resumed.

As fast as City took the lead in the first-half Preston equalised in the second. Sean Gregan motored forward unmolested to fire a 25-yarder that came off Samways for David Eyres to seize the moment and sweep in the rebound.

The match then descended into the Samways v the rest show.

He made at least four startling saves, and if it was not enough he had to repel the hosts, the City 'keeper tipped away a deflection off the hapless Barras, who not before time bowed to his injury to be replaced by Mark Tinkler.

As if to show there was no justice City regained the lead, Rowe rifling in his second goal of the afternoon and his 16th of the season. Lancashire seemingly suits 'Rodders'. He had previously hit the target at Wigan, Southport and Blackpool.

But Rowe's Lancashire hot-pot went off the boil as Deepdale became a Lancashire hot-spot.

Fired-up Preston returned to run at will, and through, the creaking red line.

A cunning curler from Michael Appleton arrowed past Samways for parity and then two points lost turned to three when Parkinson's long-range blast whistled in. Sayonara play-offs.

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