DAVIS
LONDON, CMC:
JAMAICAN CLAUDE Davis missed out on a chance to play in the English Premiership next season when his Preston North End were beaten by West Ham in the Championship division play off yesterday.
A Bobby Zamora second-half goal was enough to scupper Preston's chances and seal West Ham's return to the Premiership after a two-year absence.
Zamora converted when Matthew Etherington's cross fell to his feet and he found the back of the net from six yards out, 12 minutes after the break.
The striker could have made it 2-0 when Etherington's free-kick found him completely unmarked in lots of space but the resulting header went over the bar.
In the first half, West Ham created several chances while Preston also battled to find the net first, in order to keep their Premiership dreams alive.
Tomas Repka and Matthew Etherington were both denied as West Ham searched for the opening goal while Richard Cresswell's effort for Preston was cleared.
Just before the break, Reggae Boy Davis almost gifted West Ham their opening goal when his defensive mistake put Zamora through but he redeemed himself by putting in a well-timed tackle.
In the second half, Davis was again in action knocking a Zamora shot off the line as Preston tried to prevent West Ham from increasing their 57th minute lead.
Preston had done the double over the Hammers in the regular season, and finished above them in the table, placing fifth while West Ham finished two points lower in sixth.
