A goals in each half from Brian Stock and Brett Ormerod earned Preston a victory over Leeds that takes North End into the play-offs on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run.

It was an even contest until Stock curled a free-kick around a poor Leeds defensive wall to score his first goal since joining from Bournemouth.

And as a less competitive second period drew to a close, Ormerod forced the ball home after a goalmouth scramble to seal the points in the 77th minute.

Leeds finish the season with one win in 10 matches and although they had decent spells in each half, they rarely looked like getting back on terms.

Meanwhile, North End were also boosted by the surprise return of David Nugent as a substitute following a broken metatarsal last month.

Preston were the first to threaten in the frenzied opening exchanges but Danny Dichio failed to trouble Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan with a header from Graham Alexander's cross.

North End old boy David Healy then inexplicably passed the ball to Dichio on the edge of Leeds' area and Simon Whaley's low effort was only pushed away by a scrambling save from Sullivan.

The hosts were enjoying all the chances and Paul McKenna and Whaley both missed efforts from the edge of the area.

Leeds' first effort of note came when Robbie Blake touched a free-kick to the right and Healy blazed high and wide of goal in the 18th minute, shortly before Jonathan Douglas dragged wide from a corner.

As the half wore on the visitors' passing grew slicker and slicker and Blake was just off-target with a low free-kick as the half hour mark approached.

And in the 38th minute, Stock, a January purchase from Bournemouth, punished a foul by Matt Kilgallon on Jason Jarrett, easily clipping the ball around the wall and giving Sullivan no chance and handing his side the lead at the interval.

North End seemed more cagey after the break but opened Leeds up in the 55th minute with a crisp passing between Stock and Dichio creating space for McKenna to drive just wide.

Leeds were also more subdued although they did come close when Danny Pugh's corner reached Simon Walton at the far post only for the midfielder to hit the side-netting.

As in the opening period, United took time to establish themselves, while at the other end, Dichio missed a perfect chance to make the game safe.

Alexander's free-kick picked out the big striker on the edge of the six-yard box but he could only divert the ball over the bar.

But Ormerod wrapped up the three points with 14 minutes remaining. A cross from the right from substitute Chris Sedgwick was blocked on the line by Frazer Richardson and Sullivan pushed Ormerod's header onto the bar before the North End striker bundled the ball over.

Nugent came on for the final seven minutes as both sides seemed to settle for the result well before the final whistle, although Leeds substitute Jermaine Beckford forced a decent save from Carlo Nash, who has broken a club record for clean sheets, in added time.

Teams

Preston Nash, Alexander, Davis (Wilson 45), Mawene, Hill,Whaley, McKenna (Sedgwick 67), Jarrett, Stock (Nugent 84),Dichio, Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Agyemang, Lewis Neal.

Booked: Wilson, Alexander, Whaley.

Goals: Stock 38, Ormerod 77.

Leeds Sullivan, Richardson, Gregan, Kilgallon, Pugh, Walton,Blake (Griffiths 66), Stone, Douglas, Healy,Moore (Beckford 51).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Einarsson, Harding.

Booked: Walton.

Att: 19,350

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).