PRESTON NORTH END 1 CITY 1
Friendly
26th July 1985
Attendance 2,900
Scorers
City Power(68)
Preston Keen(59)
City Williams, May, Power, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, McIlroy, Kinsey, Lillis, Wilson, Simpson – used subs Barrett, Johnson, Melrose, Smith
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 27TH JULY 1985
City began their pre-season programme with a 1-1 draw against Preston at Deepdale last night when Clve Wilson emerged as a success once more.
An infected ankle kept him out of the promotion run-in last Spring, but on a rain-saturated pitch, Wilson revealed that all those problems were behind him, leaving McNeill exclaiming: “He is something special, I believe he has the touch of genius about him.”
Earl Barrett, too, came on for the second half to reveal that he has the composure and confidence to challenge for the right back spot in the opening match at Coventry on August 17.
Nigel Johnson emerged as the most promising of the close-season signings.
Nigel Keen, a £500 signing from non-league Barrow, gave North End, relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time in history, a 59th minute lead and skipper Paul Power equalised nine minutes later.