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Metcalf moves Preston up to third

Preston’s third win of the season took them to third place behind leaders Hull and second-placed Ben Rhydding, who Preston play away this Saturday in another Lancashire vs Yorkshire crunch match.

Having taken a week off due to a junior regional tournament, Preston burst straight into life with Metcalf, deployed initially as a marauding right half, lacerated the visitors’ left-hand side defence with alarming regularity. Unfortunately neither former Leeds man, Duncan Scott, nor Don Cock could just apply the finishing touch to Metcalf’s probing passes.

Then surprise as Leeds broke away, piercing a flat Preston defence, to allow their forward a straight forward run in on goal. 1-0 Leeds. Preston responded within 30 seconds as Sam Sinclair, set off on a mazy dribble which took him flying past four defenders before he unleashed a powerful reverse stick shot that crept in at the far post.

The remainder of the half saw Preston promise much in their attacks but deliver little as forays into the D saw shots blocked, crosses miscued and penalty corners hard to come by. Leeds collected a brace of penalty corners themselves but Simon Eccleston was alert to any danger, clearing his lines with assurance.

With an air of despondency enveloping the home side, half time couldn’t come sooner as coach Dave Scanlon and captain Richard Sullivan sought to rally the troops. The reaction was immediate as Sinclair, Metcalf and Cock all attacked an overworked Leeds defence, who battled away superbly all afternoon. Penalty corners came to nothing though and shots flied over or wide as Preston’s frustration grew.

Quick to turn defence into counter attack, Leeds seized their moment exquisitely. A five man move opening up a clear shooting opportunity at the top of the D that left Eccleston rooted to the spot.

2-1 Leeds with only 12 minutes to go and Preston were staring at their first league defeat of the season. But in a frantic and furious final ten minutes, Preston snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. First Sinclair, latched on to a neat switch pass from a penalty corner to place it unerringly beyond the outstretched gauntlet of Leeds’ 6ft 5 goalkeeper.

Scanlon gave the call for Preston to go 3-4-3 as his side went off in search of the three points. Captain Sullivan was sent to the sin-bin for cynically kicking the ball when his side looked prone to another counter attack. It mattered little.

With two minutes left, Cock picked up the ball at the top of the D before threading an inch perfect pass to the far right hand post when all 6ft 4inches and 16 stone of Metcalf was waiting to slide the ball beautifully beyond the Leeds keeper.

Coach Scanlon said: "We showed great character out there to come back twice against a highly competitive and charged Leeds side who were fully committed to winning here.

"The winning goal was a great example of being cool under pressure at the end of a scrappy and quite frantic game at times. It was important we got back to winning ways and it sets us up nicely for a tough fixture against Ben Rhydding this Saturday.”

Metcalf, who joined Preston from Formby this summer, said: "It was a great feeling to round off some good team work at the end with the winning goal.

"Leeds proved formidable opponents but we showed great heart and character in the end to pull of the win. Our feet remain firmly on the ground and we're looking forward to taking on Ben Rhydding this Saturday."

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