A second half penalty from Wes Hoolahan proved decisive as Blackpool stole the points in a high-tempo Deepdale derby - but Preston will feel agrieved not to have been handed a spot kick of their own.

The most keenly-awaited game of the season proved something of a damp - and chilly - squib, as the 3,200 travelling fans were the ones left celebrating thanks to the confidence of their star man, chipping a penalty into the Kop End net.

It was harsh on a North End side that battled for everything, and looked good value to have taken more from the game thanks to the potent attacking threat offered by forwards Paul Gallagher and Pat Agyemang and the classy midfield support from Simon Whaley and Paul McKenna, who will have been bitterly disappointed to have lost his 100th North End appearance to the old rivals.

Preston will also look to Mark Clattenburg's late decision not to point to the spot for a second time, when he told substitute Neil Mellor that he'd been fouled outside the area, when everyone else with a Lilywhite leaning believed Kaspars Gorkss' challenge was within the penalty area.

The game was played at a frantic pace from the off - and no wonder. A bitingly cold wind and a continual hint of rain combined to add bitter temperatures to the already sour rivalry.

In front of easily the most raucous support witnessed at Deepdale so far this season, it was Pool's Latvian defender Kaspars Gorkss that enjoyed the first effort on goal - his shot after collecting Hoolahan's corner scrambled away by Liam Chilvers as the visitors made a bright start.

The nerves began to show at the heart of the Blackpool defence as North End steadily took a hold on the game, and time and again Preston kept the pressure up by forcing mistakes, without actually forcing a notable early opening.

The first chance that did find its way flying towards goal was a 13th minute blast from the man making his 400th appearance in a Lilywhites jersey. Paul McKenna capitalised on a ball that was only half-cleared as the pressure continued to mount, but despite hitting the ball sweet and true, it flew inches wide of Rachubka's top left corner.

A follow-up chance moments later nearly found its way into the opposite of the two top corners. Simon Whaley - a continual tormentor of Shaun Barker down the left - floated in a corner towards the top right hand upright, only for Rachubka to tip it away as he took a hefty clattering from the advancing Liam Chilvers.

Though it was all Preston for much of the first quarter-hour, the game's most likely opening came at the other end. Wes Hoolahan was given too much room to dance inside from the left, and his perfect low cross was met left footed by Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Thankfully for PNE, his 12-yard scuff trickled pittifully wide of Lonergan's netting.

Lonergan was called upon to keep PNE in the game when uncertainty came to the fore at the back. In a momet highly reminiscent of Pat Agyemang's goal on Tuesday night, Hoolahan slotted a ball past a defence looking for an offside flag. Mike Flynn found himself in the clear, but Lonners saved well with his right foot. With the danger not yet clear, the ball looped up onto the head of Ben Burgess, but the North End keeper proved the saviour once again, preventing the ball from crossing the line with a firm hand.

Chris Sedgwick's curved through ball almost created the opening that PNE so dearly craved at the other end, but neither Agyemang nor St Ledger could get a toe on a very inviting delivery that glanced wide of the post.

St Ledger and Agyemang nearly found more success from the following attack, but Kaspars Gorkss stood firm to deflect the striker's shot wide after North End's stand-in full back had headed back across goal.

A repeat of Pat's Tuesday night goal almost looked a reality when Paul Gallagher slipped him through on goal with another perfectly timed pass, but having used his pace to round the keeper, the angle began to beat him, and an eventual weak shot was blocked by a prone Kaspars Gorkss on the line before he got back to his feet to clear.

Gallagher and Agyemang were both denied by Rachubka saves. The on loan Blackburn striker produced a sprawling block after Matt Hill had picked out the forward on the edge of the box, and then the keeper got down low to deny Agyemang as he looked to finish from Sedgwick's return ball across the box.

Paul's passing and Pat's pace proved hugely influential in another exciting attack, with Agyemang sent sprawling as he chased Gallagher's pass, due to a challenge from former PNE man Michael Jackson. Referee Mark Clattenburg ruled correctly though, adjudging the veteran Seasiders skipper to have won the ball.

The Ledge and Sedge combination came close to proving a goal moments before the break - the full back proving provider with a low cross into the box but the winger's finish lacked power as Rachubka gathered with relative ease. It turned out to be the last notable action of a goal-less first half.

Blackpool netted not long into the second half - but thankfully the whistle had already gone before Claus Jorgensen's strike from an angle past Lonergan.

An immediate counter, led by Agyemang, nearly brought its rewards when he delivered a deep cross into the box. Though it was beyond most of the intended headed targets, it fell to St Ledger, who played a quick one-two with Sedgwick but eventually saw his shot deflected over the bar off Jorgensen for a corner.

Simon Whaley thumped a 25-yard free kick into the wall after Gorkss had impeded Agyemang, but that was the last piece of defensive work undertaken by 'Pool skipper Jackson before he left the field with a suspected injury.

The game began to stretch as both sides went in search of that elusive goal, and sadly the open space played straight into the grasp of the visitors on the break. Ben Burgess led a charge from deep, and having made his way into the box, he pushed the ball past Mawene and drew a foul.

Penalty to Blackpool, yellow card to Mawene, and Wes Hoolahan chipped an ultra-confident penalty over the top of the diving Lonergan. 1-0 to the visitors with 22 minutes remaining, and the visiting fans were in rapture.

Boss Alan Irvine immediately threw on supersub Lewis Neal in place of Chris Sedgwick in an attempt to find a new passing verve, and within moments another chance came the way of the hosts. St Ledger was the provider once again with a neat ball inside to Gallagher, and after stepping outside his man, the Scotsman drew a fine sprawling save from Rachubka from a low side-footed shot.

A further double change saw Neil Mellor abnd Billy Jones thrown into the final 12 minutes of action, replacing Davidson and Mawene in search of that crucial equaliser.

Gorkss blocked a long range effort from Whaley as North End hurled everything forward while PNE appeared to be harshly denied a penalty when Gorkss appeared to foul McKenna inside the box. Instead, the referee deemed the infringement to have taken place outside the area, and instead awarded a free kick which Jones slashed through the wall but wide.

Again a free kick proved heartbreaking for North End right on the very precipice of the final 90. McKenna launched a curling effort towards goal from 25 yards and looked to have beaten Rachubka, only to see the ball rebound off the post.

When Matt Hill headed straight into Rachubka's arms from a corner right at the death, North End were beaten, and the derby day misery complete.

PNE: Lonergan, St Ledger, Chilvers, Mawene (sub Jones 78), Hill, Sedgwick (sub Lewis Neal 69), McKenna, Davidson (sub Mellor 78), Whaley, Agyemang, Gallagher. Subs not used: Chris Neal, Carter.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Barker, Gorkss, Jackson (sub Evatt 65), Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher (sub Parker 74), Jorgensen, Flynn, Hoolahan (sub Welsh 90), Morrell, Burgess. Subs not used: Vernon, Fox.

Booked: Mawene (67), Jones (82), McKenna (88); Gorkss (85), Evatt (89).

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Attendance: 17,807