PNE lost 4-3 away to league leaders Bury on Saturday despite a battling second half fight-back.

North End were 3-0 down after an hour before Ash Higgins scored a brace and Phil Appiah claimed his first goal of the season with a stunning header. Unfortunately, it was not enough to win the point the effort deserved.

Post-match a disappointed Ash Higgins said: "I'm gutted really. The boys tried their hardest in the second half, it just wasn't to be. We had a sloppy start to the game and made a few mistakes but then things didn't go our way.

"When we got our first goal the lads lifted their heads and started to have a real go at it and when we got 3-2 we were really trying. Unfortunately, they got another goal and when Phil got us a bit more hope it was just too many goals to come back from.

"We are a team, we all fight together and we all work our socks off together. If we do concede goals then it's us not working hard enough together."

Before the clash, Bury headed the table with 18 points with North End placed fourth on 16. If Jamie Hoyland's side had taken the spoils then Preston would have leap-frogged the Shakers.

Higgins added: "We knew that if we won here today they won't be leaders anymore but obviously we want to win against every team in this league. Hopefully we can carry on, do well and get a few more points and then it might be us that are top-of-the-league and not Bury."

The home side took the lead on 22 minutes when Chris Mason's shot took a nasty deflection off Mark Bloxam. Four minutes later Bury's lead was doubled, Luke Holmes capitalising on a defensive error.

The home side made it 3-0 13 minutes into the second half but the gaffer inspired his side during the break and PNE looked a different team wanting to win the game.

Higgins pulled a goal back on 62 minutes. Alertly picking up the ball outside the box, he turned a couple of defenders and fired inside the right post.

The leading goalscorer grabbed his second eight minutes later, placing past Bury's keeper after forward Tom Smyth had forged an opening from nothing.

The final twenty minutes were thrilling. North End pushed forward, sensing the equaliser but regrettably they were caught by the proverbial killer-blow.

Bury suddenly snatched the ball near midfield and switched. Jermaine Steele was on the receiving end and Preston's goalkeeper Chris Thompson could do very little to stop him from making the score 4-2.

Although the Lilywhites were two goals down the team refused to give in, having two penalty appeals turned down twice within a matter seconds. Higgins played the ball in from the left and Tom McMahon was brought down attempting to score. Bury failed to clear before Mike Aspin was on the receiving end of nasty tackle and was carried off on a stretcher. Preston had used all three subs and had to finish off with ten men.

On 90 minutes substitute Phil Appiah, who came on after Bury went three goals up, got himself on the score sheet. The midfielder burying skipper Nathan Fairhurst's pinpoint cross.

Despite Preston losing 4-3, the coach felt the game was a good footballing lesson.

Jamie Hoyland reflected: "They have got to be on the mark all the time. First half they probably thought 'we're Preston, we're playing Bury and we're going to win it. A lot of us have played really well in the reserves so we're going play well today' but it doesn't happen like that. Whether you play for the first team or the U8s, you've got to be on top of your game all the time.

"I had a few words at half time and suddenly they picked up and then they are at the game. They played really well for 45 minutes and that's very positive. It's just the other 45 where we could have won the game if they had done that right.

"I said before the game, you know what you are going to expect when you play Bury. They are hard working and really play as a team. They are a second division side but they have got some good players and we have to match them.

"For the first half we did in stages but at times we didn't and we got punished. But second half certainly, I thought we showed some good passing, worked hard and really gave it a good go. The lads deserved a draw in the end."

Preston North End: Chris Thompson, Mike Aspin, Dominic Collins, Mark Bloxam, Ray Shearwood (Chris Rogers 84), Danny Mayor (Sam Hart 82), Nathan Fairhurst, Tom McMahon, Adam Barton (Phil Appiah 58), Tom Smyth, Ash Higgins. Unused sub: Jack Cudworth.

By Frida Larsson