PNEWFC continued their pre season preparations with fixtures at Preston Sports Arena against Manchester City.
The 1st team squad played City reserves and ran out comfortable 7-0 winners.
Abbie Blackett opened the scoring for the home side, heading home powerfully from a Laura Walker corner. Linny Craig then extended the lead, coolly rounding the City keeper. Full back Vikki Eastwood made it 3-0 after weaving her way through the defence for a top corner finish. Walker obtained the fourth before Craig obtained her second of the game to give the Lilywhites a 5-0 lead at the interval.
In the second period the visitors contained North End somewhat but the keeper could do nothing about a Mel Martin strike from distance which gave a 6-0 advantage. Despite the score line City were never disheartened and continued in search of a goal, somewhat unlucky not to obtain when North End managed to clear from a goal mouth scramble. The final goal of the game came from Martin, again an effort from distance with Gemma Watson then unlucky not to add her name to the score sheet with her attempt hitting the post.
The Reserves faced a strong City 1st team and lost by 5 goals to 1 after a creditable performance, Kerry Wareing the scorer for North End.
The 2009/10 campaign commences for the 1st team next Sunday 16th August with a home fixture against newly promoted Derby County, a team victorious at the recent Sports Arena tournament. The tie is at the QED Stadium, Bamber Bridge, kicking off at 2p.m.
The Reserves must wait until 6th September for their opening game when Liverpool will be visitors to the Sports Arena.
