Blackpool 1 Preston North End 3 (From Blackpool Citizen)

Blackpool 1 Preston North End 3

12:40pm Monday 17th November 2008

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Chris Brown scored twice as a stunning second-half fightback gave Preston their first Coca-Cola Championship victory at Lancashire rivals Blackpool since 1992, winning 3-1.

North End found themselves behind at the break after on-loan Liverpool winger Adam Hamill scored a fine goal in keeping with his Anfield education to put Blackpool ahead in the 10th minute.

But Preston improved markedly after the break and Brown headed home a cross from Ross Wallace to equalise in the 55th minute.

Neil Mellor then also used his head to good effect by nodding home Callum Davidson’s left-wing delivery and Brown had the final say when he shot home from 10 yards in the 77th minute.

The win lifted them three points above their bitter rivals and had their 1,714 supporters in raptures in Bloomfield Road’s temporary stand.

Blackpool were largely dominant in the opening period and, after visiting goalkeeper Andy Lonergan denied Hammill and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Hammill fired them ahead in the 10th minute.

The 20-year-old winger, on a six-month loan from Anfield, collected a pass from Alan Gow just inside Preston’s 18-yard box and unleashed a venomous right-footed half-volley from 14 yards which flew into the top corner past a stunned Lonergan.

Hammill, part of the Liverpool team that defeated Manchester City in the 2006 FA Youth Cup final, then twice went close to doubling Blackpool’s advantage with ambitious long-range strikes.

But the game turned after the break when Brown rose highest at the near post to greet Wallace’s fine left-wing cross and plant a firm header past Paul Rachubka.

In the 68th minute, Preston’s second goal arrived as Mellor nodded home with another fine header.

And Brown finished the job 13 minutes from time after good work by Paul McKenna.

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