Preston North End

North End came from behind to defeat the League Two Shrimps, to get through to the third round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, their first tie in five that hadn't gone to penalties.

The home side took the lead just after the 20 minute mark with Jordan Mustoe poking home from close range and they took the lead into the break,

But the Lilywhites came out of the blocks in a much more forceful mood and drew level when Graham Cummins poked home Wroe's free kick. Akpo Sodje then scored within 23 seconds of coming on with his first touch before the home side drew level through a Richard Brodie penalty.

However, the visitors were back in front with the third goal in five minutes a header from Paul Huntington, before Sodje put the icing on the cake in injury time, firing in from longe range after a miss kick by former PNE stopper Andreas Arestidou.

Manager Graham Westley had made nine changes, only retaining the services of Scott Laird and David Amoo from the starting line-up at Oldham; whilst former PNE custodian Andreas Arestidou was in goal for the home side, although during the first period he was rarely tested.

The visitors had the lead at half-time thanks to a controversial goal in the 21st minute by on loan debutant Jordan Mustoe.

Richard Brodie had looked miles offside, with even him and the whole PNE backline freezing in expectation of the flag, but it didn’t come and the forward tried to chip Steve Simonsen.

The keeper easily claimed the effort and immediately rolled it out to Chris Robertson., The defender was closed down with the ball coming back to Brodie who poked the ball towards the goal and Mustoe slid in with Andy Procter to poke to the ball home from close range.

It was the first real attempt of note on either goal in a game that hadn’t got going, only an Amoo shot from distance and a Prcoter header across the face of goal on the 15 minute mark, notable in the penalty area.

The goal didn’t spark too many more opportunities in the first period, Procter heading wide from Wroe’s cross just after the half hour mark, the only time either goalkeeper was close to being troubled. 

The second half saw North End start on the front foot, with a corner inside 90 seconds, having taken 44 minutes to win one in the opening period. Nicky Wroe's inswinger was flicked across goal, but Paul Huntington couldn't direct his effort on target at the back post.

Ten minutes into the half the Lilywhites were awarded a free kick right on the left hand corner of the box after Wroe had made a tremendous run from half way.

The team were level from the resulting free kick. Wroe himself took the effort low under the wall and Graham Cummins was on hand to poke the ball into the bottom right hand corner, giving Arestidou no chance.

North End went in front for the first time in the tie on 76 minutes with Akpo Sodje scoring. He had only been on the pitch 23 seconds as the ball was played through by Andy Procter in a left hand channel and the frontman powered home from 15 yards out into the bottom left hand corner for his sixth goal of the season.

However, that lead lasted only a minute as the Shrimps were awarded an obscure penalty for what the referee, Mark Heywood, adjudged to be a foul by Keith Keane on Richard Brodie.

The big striker stepped up left footed and fired the ball into the bottom right hand corner sending Steve Simonsen the wrong way.

The sudden flow of goals didn't end there and on 81 minutes a corner, won by Paul Huntington was swung inwards from the right by Scott Laird and Paul Huntington at the back post powered a downwards header into the left hand corner of the goal.

The home side threw on late substitutes in an effort to take the game to penalties and four minutes was added to the play raising the hopes of the Shrimps, but in injury time a long ball through chased down by Monakana forced Arestidou to clear. He scuffed his clearance though and found Sodje 30 yards out, who stroked the ball back into the empty net for his seventh goal of the season.