David Nugent's goal on 33 minutes gave North End all three points in the hotly contested match at Deepdale.

The Lilywhites were made to work hard for the three points and that's exactly what they did ensuring that they finished 2006 unbeaten at home.

Paul Simpson was forced to change a winning side after Brett Ormerod was forced to miss the game through illness.

His place went to Danny Dichio who scored a brace in the reserve's midweek win over Blackpool, there was also a return for Callum Davidson after injury, as he was named amongst the substitutes.

Carlo Nash was forced into action with just a minute on the clock after good ball from Grag Halford carved open the North End defence.

It was met at the far post by Karl Duguid but Nash got down well to make a good reaction save, the ball then came back off the U's skipper again but Nash collected, while Duguid was left in a heap after appearing to collide with Nash and definately coming off worst.

After lengthy treatment the number seven was helped off the pitch to be replaced by John Jackson on five minutes.

Preston were awarded their first corner on 13 minutes, a cross from the left wing put behind by Baldwin. Colchester failed to clear the initial danger and the ball was fired back across by McKenna on the left, DIchio flicked it on but Nugent's half volley was straight at goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

A superb ball in by Matt Hill almost lead to the opening goal five minutes later. The left back made a good run down the wing before curling a superb cross into the middle, Dichio got in front of his man but rather than poke the ball goalbound his control was superb to take it down but there was no one on hand to stab it home.

Two minutes later and Dichio did have the ball in the back of the net, when he got on the end of a blocked shot from Pugh and he slotted home with ease only for the linesman to flag for offside.

Danny Pugh, who scored a great goal last weekend, went close again on 32 minutes after he was teed up by David Nugent, but his driven shot was deflected wide.

The opening goal did come just second later and it was first blood to North End, with David Nugent firing home his sixth of the season.

With the big boys still up from the corner Chilvers flicked on a left wing cross from Hill, before Dichio rose the highest to nod it into Nugent's path and last season's leading scorer made no mistake in firing past Gerken to give the home side the lead.

The goalscorer was the first man booked on 43 minutes, cautioned for what the referee deemed a foul on central defender Pat Baldwin.

A succession of corners at the end of the first half kept the pressure on the visitors as North End took a one-goal lead in at the break.

Colchester made their second change at the break with Jamie Guy replacing leading goalscorer Chris Iwelumo.

Six minutes in and Jamie Cureton was left unmarked in the middle following a cross from Halford on the right wing, he got up for the header but could only direct it straight into the hands of Nash.

At the other end David Nugent let fly from the edge of the box but his effort finished wide of the right hand post.

Dichio bought an excellent save out of Gerken on 66 minutes as he turned and hit a superb shot which the U's keeper did well to save. The North End striker was in impressive form, winning almost everything in the air and proving a real handful for thr visitors defence.

Colchester made their third and final change on 72 minutes, Hogan Ephraim replacing Kem Izzet.

The pace of Nugent was there for all to see four minutes later as he raced clear of the U's defence to latch onto a long ball from Sean St Ledger. He beat everyone for pace, cutting outside his defender and then back inside to line up the shot but his effort was well saved buy the Colchester keeper.

Danny Dichio was replaced on 77 minutes, Tommy Miller the man who came on, meaning a change of position for Whaley who pushed on to partner Nugent in attack.

Nugent's pace opened up the visitors defence again moments later after he beat the keeper to a long ball, he cut inside before appearing to be shoved off the ball by Wayne Brown. His momentum took the ball away from goal before the striker eventually fell over but the referee away the calls for a spot kick.

Jamie Guy and Graham Alexander were booked in quick succession, with time ticking on as the game began to peter out.

Simon Whaley was replaced by Lewis Neal with four minutes remaining but chances were few and far between for both sides.

Kelvin Wilson replaced Nugent as the third and final change and played the four minutes of injury time up front alongside Lewis Neal.

It might not have been pretty but in the end the goal from David Nugent was enough to keep up the pressure on Birmingham at the top of the table and move North End into second place.

PNE LINEUP: Nash, Alexander, Hill, Chilvers, St Ledger, Whaley (Neal 86), McKenna, Sedgwick, Pugh, Dichio (Miller 77), Nugent

SUBS: Lonergan (GK), Wilson, Davidson

COLCHESTER LINEUP: Gerken, Halford, Brown, Watson, Duguid (Jackson 5), Cureton, Izzet (Ephraim 72), Iwelumo (Guy 46), Baldwin, Garcia, Barker

SUBS: Davison, White