There was no north-south divide in terms of footballing ability between two play-off hopefuls who came head to head at Deepdale.

But Gillingham will be claiming they should have had a first half penalty when striker Iffy Onuora went down in a challenge by Finnish international keeper Teuvo Moilanen.

The final result was important for both teams as they have an eye on the Premiership. And it was evident that both enjoyed attacking.

Preston were gifted with an early chance when Adrian Pennock slipped just inside the 18 yards area. Richard Cresswell launched a strike on goal but the third-minute attempt was well blocked by keeper Vince Bartram.

A couple of minutes later luck fell the Gills way. Keeper Moilanen thumped the ball away, but it came to Paul Shaw whose dangerous strike was hooked off the line by defender Graham Alexander.

His opposite number Bartram showed equally sparkling form to deny winger Paul McKenna's 20-yard blast. He parried the ball to his right and though Cresswell tried a follow-up from a tight angle it flew over the bar.

Chris Hope should have scored for the visitors with his 27th minute header. He was unmarked, meeting with Nicky Southall's corner, but somehow his chance drifted wide of the left post.

Just a minute earlier Onuora forced keeper Moilanen to make a point-blank save with his leg. Onuora beat defender Michael Jackson for pace, but was denied from six yards out.

There was an action replay on 38 minutes - Onuora leaving Jackson in his wake as he raced for goal. This time he was denied by the keeper, but his appeals for a penalty came to nothing. He claimed to have been felled by the keeper, but referee Uriah Rennie did not want to know.

Preston got back into play after the interval. Full-back Rob Edwards had Bartram leaping to tip a fearsome drive over the bar. David Moyes threw Irish international David Healy into the fray, but he could not unlock the defence.

Jon Macken went close with a stylish half-volley which curled over the bar and with the minutes ticking away visitor Paul Shaw produced a thundering shot that ended off target.

Teams

Preston: Moilanen, Alexander, Edwards, Kidd, Jackson, Cartwright (Anderson 71), Rankine, Gregan, McKenna, Cresswell (Healy 51), Macken.

Subs Not Used: Lucas, Murdock, Gunnlaugsson.

Gillingham: Bartram, Patterson, Pennock, Hope, Browning, Smith, Southall, Nosworthy, King (Ipoua 81), Shaw, Onuora (Saunders 78).

Subs Not Used: Rose, James, Browne.

Att: 13,550

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).