Username
Password
Premiership dreams shattered: Preston 0 West Ham 1
By pnefans.co.uk
June 5 2005
A Preston no show hands West Ham the victory in a game which promised so much but ends in heartbreak......

Prestons dreams off playing in the Premiership were ended after a dissapointing display saw them walk away from Cardiff in defeat for the second time in four years.

After an impresive season which saw Billy Davies turn our fortunes around it looked as though on the final game of the season when everything was a stake the lads just couldn't perform and failed to produce even after enjoying the lions share of the play.

It took West Ham just four minutes to rattle the defence and a ball behind Eddie Lewis saw Thomas Repkas angled shot canon back off the post.

Prestons first chance came from Richard Cresswell whos cross come shot was cleared by the West Ham defence.

Just three minutes after the interval Preston looked to have grabbed the games first goal when Richard Cresswell climbed above Ward at a corner to direct a header on target, but Newton was alert to the danger to head off the line.

The deciding moment of the game came on 57 minutes when a cross from Etherington was met by Bobby Zamora to squeeze the ball in.

Preston never looked a threat and when David Nugent found his way into the box his shot was hit right down the keepers throat.

With 15 minutes to go the West Ham keeper came rushing off his line to claim the ball but found his momentum take him outside the box for a clear handball, the keeper stayed down injured and was only shown a yellow card, stretcherd off the pitch with replacing keeper Bywater standing in to keep his nerves and hold Paul McKenna driving free kick.

Seven minutes of injury time were added on but Preston failed to forward and looked contempt to pass the ball around as West Ham hung on to win the game 1-0.

So a fantastic season for Preston ends in dissapointment but all credit must go to the players and the manager for their efforts this season, no one was expecting to achieve what we did at the start of the seaon...well done

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with: