Tryggvi Gudmundsson's first goal for the club paved the way for the Potters to edge a five-goal thriller against Preston North End at the Lyme Valley Stadium.

The Icelandic International, currently on loan from Swedish side Orgryte, smashed home the opening goal as early as the third minute to ensure the City led from virtually start to finish.

Fellow countryman Toddi Gudjonsson added a second a minute before half-time while Omar Daley pulled one back for the visitors.

Striker Francino Francis notched City's third just after the hour-mark but David Elebert's headed goal doubled North End's tally and made for a tense final twenty minutes.

Home 'keeper Chris Sanna, though was in fine form, twice denying Ashley Stott in the closing stages to ensure a seventh home win of the season for the Potters.

It was a mix of youth and experience that took on the Lancashire side and they began the game brightly, breaking the deadlock with the very first attack of the game.

Chris Clark's low bouncing corner was picked up on the edge of the area by Gudmundsson who rifled the ball into the top right corner, giving former City stopper Gavin Ward no chance.

Clark, who looked particularly lively in the opening stages, then tested Ward with a dipping volley which he could only parry to the waiting Jermaine Palmer, who stabbed the ball home.

The striker's celebrations were short lived though as the goal was disallowed for offside.

The visitors struggled to create openings and fell further behind when Gudjonsson scampered past two defenders and raced into the area before slotting the ball past Ward from an acute angle.

Two minutes into the second-half though and North End were back in the game when Daley eluded his marker to prod home from close-range.

The energetic Clark fired harmlessly wide before substitute Martin Paterson sent the pacey Francis through on goal and the striker coolly rolled the ball under the advancing Ward and into the empty net.

Elebert headed a second for the visitors in the seventy first minute but Sanna secured the win when he twice thwarted striker Stott in the final few minutes.

City: Sanna, Denny, Smith (Kirkpatrick 88), Henry, Dickinson, Owen, Gudjonsson (Paterson 57), Clark, Francis (Thomas 68), Palmer, Gudmundsson. Subs: Garett, Duggan.

North End: Ward, Mears, Archer (Cudworth 23), Howard, Elebert, Armstrong, Daley (Parrillon 61), McCormack, Smith (McConville 61), Stott, Tracey. Subs: Neal, Warriner.