Preston North End 3 - 0 Swindon : Mighty Joe puts Preston on brink
Posted Sunday, April 26, 2015 by PA
Joe Garner's hat-trick helped Preston take a huge step towards automatic promotion with a 3-0 home win against Swindon.
Defeat ends Swindon's automatic promotion hopes while victory for MK Dons means Preston's potential promotion party will have to wait until next weekend.
Deepdale erupted in the second minute when Garner fired Preston in front. Paul Gallagher swept the ball forward and Sky Bet League One's top scorer looped the ball over visiting goalkeeper Tyrell Belford.
Preston piled on the pressure and Sam Ricketts had to deny Garner a tap-in at the far post after 43 minutes before Jermaine Beckford had a goalbound strike cleared away from three yards.
In first-half stoppage time Preston's pressure told and Garner made it 2-0, nodding Gallagher's free-kick home from eight yards.
Garner missed a great chance to make it 3-0 when he headed wide from six yards after 50 minutes.
But he did not miss a minute later after Beckford's shot had cannoned back off the crossbar and Garner was on hand to head into the empty net for his 50th goal in his 100th Preston appearance.
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