COLIN DOBSON rediscovered his form and scoring touch - but Town couldn't hold out for victory in their Roses battle with Preston.

Tom Johnston's side were finding the going tough in the original Division II and had won only four of 13 matches going into the North End clash.

That was reflected in a Leeds Road crowd of 10,834, more than 2,500 down on the corresponding figure the season before and 1,200 below the Town average for that campaign.

Town had lost 1-0 at Derby the week before, and in previewing the Preston match, the Examiner's Longfellow welcomed the return of Jimmy Nicholson from international duty with Northern Ireland (they had beaten Scotland 1-0 at Windsor Park) but asked: "What's happened to Dobby?"

The reporter continued: "In the attack fade-out at Derby, Dobson was the biggest disappointment.

"It wasn't so much the flair that was missing but the restless urgency to be involved that one normally expects from him.

"Could it be that in attempting to execute the dual role of craftsman and finisher, he is falling between both stools and being stricken by staleness?

"This is a possibility, because there is no doubt that scoring weakness along the rest of the line has tended to thrust and ever-increasing weight on the former Sheffield Wednesday man's shoulders."

Nicholson's return to the fray against the men from Deepdale certainly lifted Dobson, who showed quick reactions to fire his side ahead in the 58th minute, when he nipped past two defenders to drill a low shot past keeper Alan Kelly.

Town had made all the running, with Nicholson hitting the bar, Brian Hill a post and Mike Hellawell having a shot well saved.

But Preston, who dropped £35,000 former Rangers frontman Jim Forrest, who had failed to score in 12 games, snatched a point with their one genuine chance on 74 minutes.

Francis Lee (not the Manchester City and England version) swung in a free kick and Ernie Hannigan volleyed past John Oldfield.

It was tough on Town, who paid a high price for failing to take their chances and were left 16th in a table led by Blackpool, who were beaten 1-0 at home by second-placed Queens Park Rangers.

In the top flight, Liverpool led the way after a 1-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, who were upin second. Third-placed Manchester United went down 3-1 at Nottingham Forest.

Town Reserves had a fine 3-1 win in their Central League clash with Wolves at Molineux. Trevor Cherry, former Grimsby player Brian Kerry and Kevin McHale netted.