Preston continued their fantastic start to the season with a comfortable victory over Blackburn Rovers at the QED Stadium.
Blackburn have long been a bogey team for the Preston ladies but this fact didn’t seem to bother the girls at all as they produced a classy win to make it four victories out of the first five games of the season.
Blackburn actually started the game on the front foot and had a corner within the first two minutes after Charlotte Hayes did well down the left. Nichol Forster managed to win the delivery in the air but could only head over.
Blackburn continued to have the majority of the possession in the early stages but Preston defended well and started to create their own chances ten minutes in. Some great play between Gemma Watson and Sam Cadwallader released Mel Ball down the right and her low ball in the box looked destined for Watson who had made a run into the area. But Blackburn defender Hannah Griffiths did really well to tackle the striker just as she was about to knock the ball in the net from six yards out.
The danger wasn’t cleared completely though as the ball found its way to Alison Taberner on the right and her great cross in found Sarah Berry. The midfielder’s header from eight yards out beat Jasmine Elliott in the Blackburn goal but flew just wide.
This little spell of pressure seemed to hand the initiative to Preston and only four minutes later they took the lead in spectacular fashion. Watson received a pass from Vicky Westerman 30 yards out and took one touch before unleashing a spectacular shot. The crowd were applauding before the ball even hit the back of the net as the ball curved inwards and into the top left hand corner off the inside of the post.
This goal seemed to rock Blackburn a little but they showed how dangerous they can be when they nearly equalised 5 minutes later. Levi Penny was adjudged to have been fouled 3 yards outside the box and Hayes let fly with a left footed shot from the free kick. The ball seemed to be heading for the bottom left corner but Sophie Le Gros got down well to palm it away.
Rovers went close again two minutes later when Penny did well down the right and crossed to Keeleigh Savage. The striker found herself unmarked in the box but couldn’t keep her header down.
The game then went quiet for a ten minute spell but Savage had another headed chance 35 minutes in. Danielle Oates did really well down the right and whipped a delicious ball in that found Savage unmarked again. This time the striker managed to keep the ball down but couldn’t find the target as it skimmed the left hand post.
Preston maintained their lead through to half time and came back flying out of the blocks after the break.
First Jenna Carroll had a great chance 3 minutes into the second period after Taberner pumped a long ball into box from a free kick. The defender won the ball in the air as the keeper came out for it but instead of finding the net the ball sailed agonisingly over.
Preston wouldn’t have to wait long for their second goal though as a minute later captain Sarah Berry scored a cracker. North End won another free kick near the halfway line but this time Taberner released Louise Cafferkey down the left instead of pumping it long. The midfielder raced to the byline before crossing low into the box. The ball found Berry who let it roll through her legs before flicking a left footed back heeled finish into the net off the outstretched dive of a desperate defender.
The cheeky finish was greeted with delight by both players and fans and Berry looked understandably chuffed as she jogged back for the kick off.
For the next 20 minutes Preston continued to control the game but were pegged back 67 minutes in from Blackburn’s first attack of the half. Penny did really well for Rovers down the left and her ball into the box was only cleared to the edge of the D. Substitute Kim Turner was unmarked as the ball fell to her feet and she didn’t hesitate before smashing it towards goal. Le Gros seemed to be unsighted as it flew past her and into the net.
It seemed likely as if North End would use this as the signal to sit back and invite pressure on themselves but instead they did the opposite and nearly increased their lead again 4 minutes later. Taberner crossed yet another ball into the box which nearly drifted over Elliott in the Blackburn goal. The keeper managed to just about get back to stop the ball but spilt it at the feet of substitute Chloe Cowart. It looked as if the American would have an easy tap in but defender Nicky Twohig did excellently to get back and get a block in.
Preston continued to press for a killer third goal and Mel Ball won a free kick just outside the right hand edge of the area. Unfortunately the winger was injured for her troubles and physical Blackburn midfielder Lizzie Ince was booked after the latest in a number of fouls. Taberner again took charge of the set piece and instead of shooting floated a ball to the back post where Cowart and Stacey Marsden just couldn’t get a telling touch.
Despite not being able to kill off the game Preston were relatively untroubled at the back and saw out the last ten minutes without any scares to secure yet another three points for Luke Swindlehurt’s team.
The manager made it clear after the game how delighted he was with all his players:
“Absolutely over the moon I think the girls played unbelievable today. Everyone single player did what was asked of them, they got tight they were physical and I think we were better all over the pitch. We knew Rovers would come out of the blocks for the second half so we thought we would beat them to the chase and up our game to put them under pressure. Mel’s hurt herself because she was taken out quite viciously but she’s smiling now so hopefully she can recover for next week. We’re not going to change anything against Rochdale in terms of training and working hard and hopefully we can get a another three points.”
Preston North End: Sophie Le Gros, Stacey Marsden, Vikki Eastmond, Alison Taberner, Jenna Carroll, Mel Ball (Carla Cleworth 78), Vicky Westermann (Chloe Cowart 42), Sam Cadwallader, Sarah Berry (c), Louise Cafferkey (Alice Forshaw 50), Gemma Watson. Subs not used: Hannah Bailey, Fiona Berry
Blackburn Rovers: Elliott, Hayes, Twohig, Griffiths, Oates, Cox. Forster (c), Wood, Savage, Penny, Forster. Subs: Hart, Turner, Ince, Foxley, Parker