Last season Wes Hoolahan wrote his name in Blackpool history, this season Charlie Adam became the hero, his goal on the stroke of half time saw Pool record a 1-0 win over their arch rivals and hit 50 points which should see Pool retain their Championship status.

Pool were given a massive boost ahead of the game with the news Keith Southern and DJ Campbell had declared themselves fit for the clash with Lancashire rivals Preston North End. As well as the influential duo of Southern and Campbell being fit, Tony Parkes was able to include Ben Burgess and Roy O'Donovan in the starting line up. On the bench Pool looked strong with Lee Hughes, Brett Ormerod and Simon Walton joining Claus Jorgensen and Matt Gilks.

The 5000 or so Pool fans in the Shankly stand behind Paul Rachubka's goal joined the Preston supporters in a minutes applause for former Preston President Malcolm Woodhouse who passed away recently before the hosts got things underway to crescendo of noise.

David Vaughan's great ball to DJ Campbell saw the livewire striker tussle with Mawene who eventually turned behind the resulting corner saw Ben Burgess met Vaughan's corner and power a header towards goal, but Lonergan was equal to the effort to turn behind for Pool's second corner of the opening stages.

Lonergan had to be on hand to claim a great cross from Stephen Crainey, the former Pool loanee collected the cross off the head of Keith Southern as Pool edged the opening five minutes

Shaun Barker under pressure from John Parkin gave Preston their first corner when he was forced to put behind, fortunately for Pool Parkin could only direct his header from the resulting corner wide of Rachubka's right hand post.

Eddie Nolan's cross from the left almost brought about the games opener when Elliott got in front of his man to glance a header just wide. Moments later Pool were indebted to a great last ditch challenge from Keith Southern on Nolan as the former Blackburn looked set to pull the trigger on the edge of the area, Southern came charging in to block behind for a corner.

Pool forced their third corner of the game on 14 minutes when Nolan headed Charlie Adam's teasing free kick behind under no pressure,

Charlie Adam was penalised on 16 minutes for a late challenge on Chris Sedgwick, Ross Wallace stepped up and fired the resulting free kick on to the post with Rachubka beaten.

Five minutes later Adam tried his luck from distance as Pool tried in vain to snatch the lead.

At the other end, North End's set plays were always a threat and on 22 minutes Parkin got on the end of another teasing corner.

Charlie Adam then burst forward as the game became end to end, Adam rode a couple of challenges before opting to slide the ball out to David Vaughan, in hindsight, the Scottish midfielder might have opted to unleash one of his trademark left foot strikes.

Stephen Elliott then whistled a shot just wide, Lee Williamson beat Keith Southern in the air to direct the ball into the path of Elliott and the former Wolves man unleashed a fantastic strike just wide of Rachubka's right hand post.

Both sides were creating chances and you sensed it would only be a matter of time before the deadlock was broken, for Pool Charlie Adam once again burst forward and once again he opted to pass, this time he slid the ball out to Burgess who saw his sidefooted finish parried by Lonergan and eventually the North End defence scrambled the ball back to their keeper who cleared their lines.

It was then Rachubka's turn to earn his corn, this time the American stopper expertly turned Elliott's shot on the angle behind for a corner.

Pool forced yet another corner on 32 minutes when Ben Burgess cross was blocked behind by Mawene, Burgess then got in front of his man to head the resulting corner wide.

Two minutes later Alex Baptsite turned behind for a corner following a cross from McKenna, this time Rachubka came through the crowd to punch clear.

Charlie Adam became the first man in the book on 35 minutes following a late challenge on Sedgwick.

Two minutes later Paul McKenna smashed a shot just over from long range.

As expected the deadlock was finally broken two minutes before the beak, CHARLIE ADAM won the ball in midfield and burst forward and this time the Rangers midfielder went for goal and drilled a low finish beyond the outstretched Lonergan, the ball seemed to take an age before drifting in off Lonergan's left hand post to send the Tangerine Army into raptures.

Half Time Preston 0 Blackpool 1

Preston began the second half brightly and the half was just minutes old when Nolan, St. Ledger and Williamson combine down the middle to feed Parkin. The big striker turned but his low shot was well saved by Rachubka.

After 8 minutes of the second period Pool came back in to the game and forced their first corner of the second period, a great ball from Charlie Adam found DJ Campbell, but the striker ran straight into trouble and Eddie Nolan and the full back was content in clearing behind for a corner.

A minute later Charlie Adam continued his role of chief tormentor, this time the midfielder smashed a shot across the face of goal only for Jones to deflect behind for a corner. The resulting corner saw Burgess get a head on the cross but Lonergan was on hand to clear the danger.

On 57 minutes Charlie Adam almost made it 2-0 when he smashed a long range free kick just wide after Roy O'Donovan had been sent sprawling following a reckless challenge from Billy Jones.

The hour mark almost marked a second Pool goal, Ben Burgess did well to retain possession under pressure from Mawene, but hte big striker threaded a great ball to David Vaughan who smashed his finish across the face of goal and just wide.

Both teams made changes on 65 minutes, Brett Ormerod replaced Roy O'Donovan for the Seasiders whilst Chris Sedgwick and Stephen Elliott made way for Simon Whaley and Neil Mellor for Preston.

Mellor's first touch was to head a Wallace cross just wide.

Pool were forced to make a change with 15 minutes remaining when Alex Baptiste limped out of the action to be replaced with Simon Walton who came on for his Pool debut.

David Vaughan earned Pool another corner on 77 minutes but once again the Lilywhites defence stood firm and cleared the danger.

With eight minutes remaining Lee Williamson drove a long range effort well wide as Preston became increasingly frustrated with Pool's dogged defending.

With six minutes Sean St Ledger turned DJ Campbell's overhead kick behind for a corner, although the former Peterborough man appeared not to know a great deal about it, Preston managed to scramble behind the resulting corner.

With four minutes remaining Preston had the ball in the net after St Ledger bundled home a corner, Andy D'Urso who was right on the spot penalised the hosts for a foul on Shaun Barker who ended up in a heap on the floor.

Preston then made their final change of the afternoon when Darren Carter replaced Lee Williamson with four minutes remaining.

Pool made their final change of the afternoon with a minute remaining when Claus Jorgensen replaced DJ Campbell, Jorgensen slotted into a five man midfield allowing the shattered Ben Burgess to plough on up top on his own.

The four minutes of stoppage time seemed to take an eternity and when Preston were awarded a free kick was cleared behind for a corner with seconds remaining hearts were in the mouths, Andy Lonergan charged forward but Preston didn't get a shot in, the final whistle was once again met by jubilant scenes and I would imagine there will be a few sore heads tomorrow morning!

POOL: Rachubka, Baptiste (Walton 75), Barker, Edwards, Crainey, O'Donovan (Ormerod 65), Adam, Southern, Vaughan, Burgess, Campbell (Jorgensen 89) Subs Not Used: Gilks, Hughes

PRESTON: Lonergan, Nolan, Mawene, St Ledger, Jones, Wallace, Sedgwick, Williamson (Carter 86), McKenna, Elliott, Parkin Subs Not Used: Chilvers, Neal

Attendance: 21,273

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)