Goals from Jacob Slater and Kitt Nelson gave Preston North End a 2–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers and maintained the Lilywhites’ unbeaten status in the Central League.
Slater opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a powerful header, before Arran Pettifer equalized for the visitors at Springfields shortly after the hour mark.
However, PNE retook the lead five minutes later when Nelson scored for their first win of the Central League campaign.
North End were on the front foot from the start, with Aaron Bennett seeing a volley blocked in the first minute, before Noah Mawene headed wide soon after.
After a couple of other half chances, Slater put his team ahead on 12 minutes as Nelson did well to keep his man at bay and cross for the left wing to rise higher for a header.
Bolton’s first real adventure forward came in the 20he Minute and Pettifer might as well have tied the Trotters, but their first try narrowly missed.
At the other end, goalkeeper Ellis Litherland made a good save to avoid a Mawene header, while Tommy Davis then produced a great reflex for the North End when the ball came to him at some speed from Yestin Shakespear.
Bennett stopped a 20-yard shot early in the second half, and Nelson then came close to the hour mark, but a defender had a vital last-minute touch to deny what looked like a sure goal.
However, the visitors equalized in the 63rd minute, against the grain of the game, as Pettifer fired a low shot under Davis from the edge of the box.
North End almost had an immediate reply through Slater, who brought down a defender on his way into the box, but his shot went over the bar.
The PNE did have its advantage back in 1968he Minute courtesy of Nelson, who showed class in keeping his cool and getting past the keeper after Mawene had slipped the pass to him.
Davis also pulled off a fantastic double stop to maintain that lead, first saving Lynford Sackey, before denying Pettifer on the rebound.
The lively Pettifer had a great opportunity right on the kill, but was unable to get his short-range effort on target as PNE saw the game off to take the points.
Training of the PNE: Davis; Nevin, Taylor, Best; Eccleston (Coulton, 45), Bennett (Wallbank, 81), Kamara, Mawene, Slater; Cross-Adair, Nelson (Rodriguez-Gentile, 81). Unused substitutes: Hogarth, Seary.
Bolton Wanderers line-up: litreland; Toure, Trialist, Halford; Sackey, Khumbeni, Tweedley, Pettifer, Frimpong; Lorenzo (Sharples, 73), Shakespear (Lawrence, 77). Unused Subs: Chapman, Kamara, Burgess.
Referee: Mr. J. Pettitt.