Preston 2 Doncaster 2: Beckford pounces to deny Rovers victory

Rovers had looked on course for a dream victory when they scored two goals in a dramatic final 10 minutes to stun the hosts.

Substitute Harry Forrester’s smart low drive, then Curtis Main’s deflected header saw Rovers turn the game on its head as they almost bagged a fifth league win in seven games.

However, substitute Beckford broke Rovers hearts.

Rovers impressed during the opening 10 minutes at Deepdale.

Main went close, while Abdul Razak fizzed in a low drive which Sam Johnstone palmed away.

It was against the run the play when the hosts broke the deadlock after 14 minutes. Neat build-up play down Rovers’ right eventually found Daniel Johnson, who drilled home.

Leading up to the break Johnson again went close, while lone front-man Joe Garner fired a shot just past the upright.

Johnson almost doubled Preston’s lead just after the restart. Pouncing on a poor clearance from goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, he fired a shot straight back in from 40 yards, only to see the ball fly narrowly over.

That was before Forrester and Main stepped in and produced a tense finale.

Preston North End: Johnstone, Wright, Clarke, Huntington, Laird, Humphrey, Welsh, Gallagher (Kilkenny, 68), Johnson, Robinson (Beckford, 84), Garner (Davies, 79). Unused susbstitutes: Stuckmann, Wiseman, Reid, Ebanks-Blake.

Doncaster Rovers: Bywater, Wabara, McCullough, Butler, Stevens, Razak (Forrester, 58), Keegan (Ikpeazu, 71), Furman (Coppinger, 64), Wellens, Tyson, Main. Unused susbstitutes: McCombe, Robinson, Marosi, Bennett.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.