Northend come out top in 'six pointer'

Paddy
By pnefans.co.uk
March 8 2005

Northend underlined their playoff ambitions with a 2-1 win against West Ham at Upton Park

West Ham 1
Zamora 87
bookings: Harewood 45, Williams 66, Mullins 84, Repka 44

Preston 2
Nugent 17
Agyemang 81
bookings: Sedgwick 45, Alexander 59

Attendance: 26,442

1200 Northend fans were at Upton Park today to see Northend take three valuable points against playoff hopefuls West Ham.

It was nearly Chris Sedgewick who was first on the score sheet today but at the wrong end as he was defending a cross into the box but was saved by keeper Chris Day who scrambled the ball away for a corner.

From Sedgewicks almost blunder to a howler from West Ham keeper Bywater who gifted Northend a goal as he mis-controlled a through ball and was charged down by David Nugent who slotted the ball home from 10 yards to give Preston a crucial 1-0 lead.

Bywater tried to redeem himself saving well from in form Chris Sedgewick, then in the 44th minute a big turning point as West Ham defender Tomas Repka saw red for a clash with Brian O'Neil, as he raised his arms and headbutted O'Neil.

With the numerical advantage beginning to show goalscorer Nugent saw a second goal disallowed for offside, moments later Nugent finds himself through again as rounds the keeper only shoot wide.

With 10 minutes left of the game Agyemang comes on for Nugent and with his first touch of the game finds himself in space and shoots low to put Northend two up, and make his first major contribution this season.

With three minutes left of the game Bobby Zamora pulls one back for the Irons and makes a nervy finish to the game as the officials indicate four minutes of injury time to raise the Upton Park roof, and see a disbelieved Billy Davies sent off down the tunnel early. But Northend hold out for a massive three points.