Preston beat eventual Champions Sunderland 1-0 120 years ago yesterday

29^th December 1894                                                                          League Division One

                  PRESTON NORTH END   1                         SUNDERLAND    0                        

                               (Smith 15)                                                       

Referee Mr J.Lewis of Blackburn                                                  Attendance 3,000

Preston NE:- Trainor, Dunn, Holmes, Sharp, Greer, Sanders. Drummond, Barr, Smith, Beckton,Henderson.

Sunderland:-- Doig, McNeill, Hyslop, Dunlop, McCreadie, Wilson, Gillespie, Millar,  Campbell, J.Hannah, Scott.

This rearranged game was played in weather that was little better than that which forced its postponement on the 22^nd of December. A strong NW gale blew accompanied by blinding hail showers but with the wind dropping as kick off time approached Mr Lewis ordered the game to proceed. Sunderland, who had been at Southport since playing Forest brought in Hyslop for Johnstone at left back and replaced Harvie  with J.Hannah up front. The attendance was very poor with barely 3,000 around the barriers when Preston won the toss and not surprisingly took advantage of the gale.

Sunderland were forced to defend immediately but managed to get the ball away to Gillespie who flew down the right beat Sanders and centred beautifully. Campbell met the ball and let fly but his shot was carried wide by the strong wind. The wind and the heavy ground were affecting the play and it soon became apparent that the game was to be a scrambling affair. Campbell found the back of the Preston net but was given offside and then Barr burst away on the home left but Hyslop blocked his shot.

Campbell was brought down heavily by Dunn as he closed in on goal and then Drummond wasted a good opening for Preston with a poor centre. The Sunderland goal had a narrow escape when Henderson and Beckton combined well to send a shot just past but in the 15^th minute North end took the lead. Smith got possession some 30 yards out and banged in an electrifying low shot that gave Doig no chance. Encouraged by this Preston attacked like demons and Drummond forced a corner from which Henderson sent a fine shot just past. 

The Sunderland defence were severely tested but were in grand form. North End won a corner and then a free kick from which Doig made a brilliant save and then in the next minute McNeill did well to block a fine shot from Greer. A spell of midfield play ensued and then Barr forced another good save out of Doig. Hyslop was forced then to concede a corner as Preston kept Sunderland penned back and rained in shot after shot on the visitors goal most of which went just past the posts. Doig clutched one effort right under the bar as 3 Preston forwards tumbled over him.

Beckton sent a teasing centre across the face of goal and when Barr missed the ball Doig quickly shoved it out for a corner. Sanders dropped the flag kick onto the bar and it went behind. A brief raid by the Sunderland right was quickly repelled and Preston swept forward again for Doig to make another fine save. The Sunderland halfbacks were playing a grand game and time after time they broke up determined Preston attacks. Doig cleared another hard shot from Beckton and then as halftime loomed Drummond shot wide from out on the left wing.

Playing with the wind in the 2^nd half Sunderland felt confident of pulling back the single goal deficit and they went off immediately only for Sanders tackle to halt Scotts gallop. Preston got forward and Smith sent in a low curling shot that Doig pounced on and kicked away. At the other end Hannah tried a long shot that went wide and then Holmes kicked away a shot from Scott as Sunderland probed the home defence. A brilliant run and centre from Henderson saw Hyslop hook the ball out from under the bar and the loose ball was driven wide by Barr.

Sunderland were not making the best use of the wind and their forwards were a bit ragged at this stage. McCreadie sent a free kick over the bar and from the goal kick Beckton dashed away to drop the ball right into the visitor’s goalmouth where McNeill booted it away. Drummond put a shot wide of the mark as Sunderland struggled to cope with the quick rushes of the Preston forwards. Doig ended another sharp rush when he dashed out and kicked the ball off Barrs toes. Hannah had a chance and after catching the ball Trainor sliced it over his own goal line as he tried to kick clear.

Sunderland wasted the corner and then got caught offside to give Preston a free kick. Grand forward play by Beckton and Smith ended with Henderson shooting miserably wide. McCreadie tried a long shot that looked to be going out until caught by the wind and Trainor was a little fortunate to grab it as it swung in under the crossbar. A free kick to Sunderland for a trip by Dunn was wasted by Gillespie who sent the ball behind and then Trainor saved a long shot from Wilson under strong challenge from Campbell.

Grier was penalised for jumping and Trainor did splendidly to fist away the free kick. Hannah got in a fine straight shot that Holmes deflected out for a corner that was of no avail. The clearance enabled Preston to sweep up field and Smith sent in a fast low centre that Barr just failed to touch as it went out of play. Beckton drove a shot over the bar and then a grand run from Barr ended in disappointment when he ran the ball out of play much to the displeasure of the home crowd. Preston were putting plenty of energy into their game but were still unable to find a 2^nd goal.

North Ends next attack ended with Beckton being ruled offside as he shot and moments later when Henderson got possession his was a similar fate. A free kick gave Sunderland one last chance but they were easily sent back and for the 2^nd time in 3 days they were forced to accept defeat.                                                                  (Newc Dly Chron)