Neil Mellor's 79th-minute strike looked to have ended Town's hopes of a top-six finish but Walters netted with three minutes remaining to salvage a point.

The two late goals capped an entertaining encounter which saw Tommy Miller open the scoring before Chris Brown - another former Sunderland player - drew Preston level before half-time.

The Tractor Boys were desperate for victory in their penultimate game of the season as they bid to sneak a play-off spot.

And Miller set them on their way with a well-struck shot from 25 yards which flew past North End goalkeeper Andy Lonergan in the 11th minute.

Miller is Ipswich's all-time leading goalscorer against Preston, with his strike here his sixth for the Tractor Boys against the Lancashire outfit.

He has also scored three goals against Preston for Hartlepool, so it was little wonder he was in the thick of things from the outset.

His early opener allowed the visitors to settle and encouraged hopes of only a fourth away win of the season for Jim Magilton's men.

Ipswich's travel sickness has cost them dear this season and they came under the cosh after Miller's opener.

In the 17th minute, Brown engineered the space to hit a shot from 12 yards which drew a smart stop from Ipswich goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

Five minutes later, Preston midfielder Richard Chaplow drove a 18-yard shot into Bywater's midriff.

North End began to dominate and Bywater was forced into another decent save in the 31st minute from Mellor's close-range shot.

It was yet another warning to Magilton's men but one they failed to heed as Preston finally drew level in the 34th minute.

It came from a fine pass from defender Callum Davidson, who found Brown in space 25 yards from goal.

Brown did the rest with a fine shot from distance to register his fifth goal since joining North End from Norwich in January.

He should have netted again six minutes before the break when Chris Sedgwick crossed from the right and he headed over the crossbar from six yards out.

Chaplow almost put Preston ahead in the 53rd minute with a shot from 30 yards which whistled just wide of Bywater's post.

Ipswich were not without chances of their own and midfielder Alan Quinn was unfortunate to see his 18-yard strike sail narrowly over the crossbar.

However, Preston began to up the tempo as the second half wore on and Mellor twice went close within the space of as many minute shortly after the hour mark.

He was not to be denied in the 79th minute when he fired home left-footed from Simon Whaley's left-wing cross.

But Walters displayed his own predatory instincts with three minutes remaining when he collected Owen Garvan's pass and fired into the bottom left-hand corner.

Sporting Life