STEVE SMITH created a piece of Huddersfield Town history – then supplied the crucial delivery for the dramatic Tony Leighton goal which sunk battling Preston.

After 72 minutes of a tight Second Division match played in blustery conditions at Leeds Road, teenager Smith, pictured, became the first substitute used by the club – in match number nine.

John Coddington, struggling with a leg injury, was the man to make way as Town were forced to reshuffle soon after Alex Dawson’s equaliser.

Les Massie dropped back to centre-half leaving Mike O’Grady to move inside and versatile Smith to take up the left-wing vacancy.

And the Huddersfield-born 19-year-old, making his seventh appearance for the club, had supporters cheering when he broke away in the last minute.

This time his run was down the right, and the cross was inch-perfect for Leighton to head his second of the game and third of the season.

Signed from Barnsley for £22,000 midway through the previous campaign, Leighton had notched eight goals in 18 outings for Town in 64-65.

An injury had kept him out of the early stages of the new season, but he returned with the goal which sealed a 1-1 draw at Bolton, then followed up by putting Town ahead against Preston.

A number of the 18,114 crowd were still filing into the stadium when Jimmy Nicholson broke through the middle and released Kevin McHale.

The right winger sped down his flank then cut into the penalty area to set up Leighton for a smart low finish beyond keeper Alan Kelly.

The long-serving Irishman was far busier than Town stopper John Oldfield as the home side played with the wind behind their backs in the first half.

Tom Johnston’s second-placed side were knocking the ball around nicely, and O’Grady and Massie both came close to adding a second goal.

Preston held out, however, and were soon on the attack when they had the elements in their favour.

With Howard Kendall and Nobby Lawton pulling the strings, they piled on the pressure, and it finally told in the 70th minute.

Brian Godfrey was the fastest to react to a wind-assisted ball into the penalty box and his cross was turned in by former Manchester United man Dawson.

Preston must have fancied their chances of taking both points, but Town had other ideas!

The win kept Town within a point of leaders Southampton, who thumped Wolves 9-3 at The Dell.

Third-placed Rotherham were 3-1 victors at Derby while Manchester City, in fourth, lost 4-3 at Cardiff.

Town: Oldfield, Atkins, McNab, Nicholson, Coddington (Smith, 72mins), Meagan, McHale, Massie, Leighton, Quigley, O’Grady.

Preston: Kelly, Ross, Donnelly, Lawton (Singelton, 82mins), Cranston, Kendall, Lee Godfrey, Dawson, Spavin, Veall.