All very friendly at Gigg Lane
The home side began brightly and had most of the early possession but it was the visitors who created the first chances of the game. A Cresswell shot resulted in a corner from which Skora hit the bar. Then, moments later, a nice piece of individual work by Nugent created an excellent chance for Skora but his shot flew well over the bar.
Skora and Cresswell both had further efforts cleared for corners but Bury were always in the game, with former Northender Brian Barry-Murphy being denied on the line by keeper Gavin Ward. However it was the visitors who were on top and Nugent again went close shortly before the half-time whistle .
In the sixth minute of the second half it was fittingly David Nugent who won the game for North End. Picking up the ball some 25 yards from goal, his speed was too much for the Bury defence and the hapless keeper was given no chance with a clinical finish which drew appreciative applause from both sets of supporters.
Preston failed to capitalise on further chances which fell to Cresswell and Skora, with the Frenchman hitting the bar again for a second time in the game, and the match ended in a North End victory by the single goal.
Former Bury players Lucketti and Nugent were warmly applauded by the home fans when substituted.
PNE: Ward, Mears, Mawene, Lucketti (Elebert 57), Broomes, Etuhu (McCormack 75), Sedgwick (Anyinsah 71) Skora, Cresswell (Agyemang 62), Nugent (Hibbert 62), McKenna
Subs: Nash, Agyemang, McCormack, Anyinsah, Elebert, Hibbert
Bury: Edwards, Scott, Challinor, Woodthorpe, Unsworth, Mattis, Flitcroft, Kennedy, Whaley, Barry-Murphy, Barlow
Subs: Sedgemore, Adams, Barrow, Burke, Hitchen, Theophanous ,Fitzgerald, Grundy
Attendance: 1354