Mark Roberts's last-gasp header earned Stevenage a point as Graham Westley returned to his former stomping ground with new club Preston.

Patrick Agyemang threatened early on for the hosts when he cut inside from the right but could only fire over.

Iain Hume looked to have won it for North End when he slotted calmly past Boro keeper Chris Day.

But Roberts rose highest to head home Michael Bostwick's corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Preston manager Graham Westley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I thought we were by far the better side throughout the 90 minutes. We passed the ball well and carved out a lot of good moments.

"The 1-0 scoreline would have been well deserved had we held on at the end.

"There's a sense of purpose about the team, there's more understanding in the team of what's wanted and you can see a lot of progression in the performances in the last couple of games.

"If you look at the energy levels of the team in the second half, it says everything about the professionalism of the players."

Stevenage manager Gary Smith told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I thought we deserved more than that for our general play.

"The guys showed a fantastic attitude throughout. Competitively we were the more dominant and the more physically capable.

"For good periods in that first half we had good territorial advantage and maintained good pressure.

"You have to score when you've got that momentum in the game."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 03 Laird
  • 05 Ashton
  • 14 Roberts
  • 25 Henry Booked
  • 02 Wilson
  • 13 Byrom (Myrie-Williams - 86' )
  • 24 Bostwick Booked
  • 10 Reid (Chalassitis - 81' )
  • 15 Freeman
  • 29 Agyemang (Slew - 72' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Lascelles
  • 11 Myrie-Williams
  • 21 Mousinho
  • 19 Chalassitis
  • 27 Slew

Preston

  • 01 Stuckmann
  • 02 Gray
  • 05 Robertson
  • 26 Wright
  • 08 Coutts Booked
  • 16 Mayor
  • 17 Parry
  • 35 Ehmer
  • 38 Procter Booked
  • 44 Aneke (Proctor - 72' )
  • 37 Holroyd (Hume - 72' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 25 Arestidou
  • 18 Devine
  • 07 Hume
  • 09 Proctor
  • 39 Cummins
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 3,386

Match Stats

Shots

13 8

On target

4 3

Corners

2 4

Fouls

12 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:30 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +3:12

Assist by Michael Bostwick.

90:00 +3:12 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Roberts - Stevenage 1 - 1 Preston A goal is scored by Mark Roberts from close in low into the middle of the goal. Stevenage 1-1 Preston.

88:48

Jordan Slew challenges Danny Mayor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Thorsten Stuckmann.

86:46

Danny Mayor takes the direct free kick.

86:46 Booking

Booking Caution for Ronnie Henry.

86:38

Danny Mayor fouled by Ronnie Henry, the ref awards a free kick.

85:39 Substitution

Substitution Jennison Myrie-Williams comes on in place of Joel Byrom.

84:50

Assist by Danny Mayor.

84:50 Goal scored

Goal - Iain Hume - Stevenage 0 - 1 Preston Iain Hume gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Stevenage 0-1 Preston.

80:51 Substitution

Substitution (Stevenage) makes a substitution, with Michael Chalassitis coming on for Craig Reid.

80:10

Joel Byrom takes the direct free kick.

80:10 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Iain Hume for unsporting behaviour.

79:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Freeman by Iain Hume.

79:08

Andrew Procter fouled by Joel Byrom, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Coutts.

78:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamie Proctor on Scott Laird. Scott Laird takes the direct free kick.

76:17

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Mayor, Michael Bostwick manages to make a clearance.

75:20

Jamie Proctor has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

74:39

Foul by Jordan Slew on Paul Coutts, free kick awarded. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the direct free kick.

74:01

Jamie Proctor is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Day.

72:40

Shot from inside the six-yard box by Craig Reid goes wide right of the target.

71:19 Substitution

Substitution Patrick Agyemang goes off and Jordan Slew comes on.

71:19 Substitution

Substitution Chris Holroyd goes off and Iain Hume comes on.

71:19 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Proctor is brought on as a substitute for Chuks Aneke.

69:53

Max Ehmer produces a right-footed shot from close range that goes over the bar.

69:26

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Save made by Thorsten Stuckmann.

68:44

Andrew Procter concedes a free kick for a foul on Lawrie Wilson. Direct free kick taken by Jon Ashton.

66:27

Danny Mayor challenges Lawrie Wilson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joel Byrom delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing. Joel Byrom produces a left-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

66:27

Danny Mayor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lawrie Wilson. Free kick crossed left-footed by Joel Byrom, Long distance shot from Joel Byrom misses to the left of the target.

62:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Bostwick on Chris Holroyd. Paul Parry restarts play with the free kick. Chuks Aneke takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Laird. Danny Mayor takes a inswinging corner.

61:07

Foul by Michael Bostwick on Andrew Procter, free kick awarded. David Gray takes the free kick.

59:01

Max Ehmer challenges Scott Laird unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Day takes the free kick.

54:40

Andrew Procter challenges Michael Bostwick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Day.

51:37

Close range shot by Craig Reid goes wide of the left-hand upright.

47:13

Chuks Aneke challenges Joel Byrom unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

46:20

Luke Freeman has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:23 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +2:06

Luke Freeman takes a shot. Save by Thorsten Stuckmann.

45:00 +0:29

Craig Reid is ruled offside. Bailey Wright restarts play with the free kick.

40:29

Unfair challenge on Bailey Wright by Lawrie Wilson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Andrew Procter. Chuks Aneke concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Bostwick. Direct free kick taken by Jon Ashton. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joel Byrom, Michael Bostwick challenges Max Ehmer unfairly and gives away a free kick. Thorsten Stuckmann restarts play with the free kick.

37:37

Joel Byrom fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

37:37 Booking

Booking Booking for Andrew Procter.

37:24

Foul by Andrew Procter on Lawrie Wilson, free kick awarded.

35:22

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Danny Mayor.

33:49

Lawrie Wilson produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

32:56

Foul by Chris Holroyd on Mark Roberts, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Chris Day.

31:11

Joel Byrom takes the free kick.

31:11 Booking

Booking Booking for Paul Coutts.

30:47

Scott Laird fouled by Paul Coutts, the ref awards a free kick.

27:49

Foul by Joel Byrom on Chris Holroyd, free kick awarded. Danny Mayor restarts play with the free kick. Paul Parry produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

24:50

The official flags Lawrie Wilson offside. Bailey Wright restarts play with the free kick.

22:40

Michael Bostwick fouled by Max Ehmer, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Joel Byrom. The official flags Mark Roberts offside. Thorsten Stuckmann restarts play with the free kick.

20:00

Chuks Aneke takes a shot. Save made by Chris Day. Corner from the left by-line taken by Danny Mayor, clearance by Mark Roberts.

18:16

Andrew Procter concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Freeman. Free kick crossed left-footed by Joel Byrom from left channel.

17:43

Shot by Danny Mayor from outside the box goes high over the target.

15:48

Chuks Aneke challenges Scott Laird unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Laird restarts play with the free kick.

15:15

Craig Reid takes a shot. Thorsten Stuckmann makes a save.

14:37

Chris Holroyd is ruled offside. Chris Day takes the indirect free kick.

12:56

Shot on goal by Patrick Agyemang from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

10:55

Danny Mayor takes the direct free kick. Chuks Aneke takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

10:55 Booking

Booking Michael Bostwick is cautioned.

10:45

Foul by Michael Bostwick on Max Ehmer, free kick awarded.

9:27

Unfair challenge on Max Ehmer by Michael Bostwick results in a free kick. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the direct free kick.

8:16

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the right by-line, Scott Laird takes a shot from inside the six-yard box clearing the crossbar.

7:35

Andrew Procter is caught offside. Free kick taken by Chris Day.

5:52

The referee blows for offside against Lawrie Wilson. Indirect free kick taken by Thorsten Stuckmann.

4:41

The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris Holroyd. Chris Day takes the indirect free kick.

4:13

Michael Bostwick fouled by Max Ehmer, the ref awards a free kick. Jon Ashton takes the free kick.

3:27

Craig Reid is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the indirect free kick.

2:12

Long range shot from Scott Laird misses to the left of the target.

0:19

Michael Bostwick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Max Ehmer. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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