Preston made the journey over the Pennines to Yorkshire Amateurs, home to newly promoted Leeds City Vixens. It was hoped that they could build on last weeks victory against Derby County but unfortunately they returned home with a 3-0 defeat following a first half goal from Stacey Daniel with Emily Maguire and Tennisha Watson Phillips netting in the second period.
The opening corner of the game in Vixens favour was delivered accurately by Emily Heckler with Emma Reader in the North End goal punching clear. The action switched to the other end with full back Vikki Eastwood playing the ball through for Linny Craig, the return ball to Eastwood then being struck over. Preston centre half Kim Swarbrick then left the field of play temporarily due to injury and on 13 minutes Vixens used their numerical advantage to the full, capitalising on Preston’s failure to clear their lines with a strike home by Daniel.
Preston searched for an equaliser with Chantelle O’Hara unlucky with her strike hitting the post and Laura Walker seeing her shot punched for a corner by Carrie Simpson in the home goal. A subsequent Laura Walker corner appeared to have crossed the line after a goal mouth scramble but the officials waved play on. A succession of free kicks in Preston’s favour proved fruitless with Vixens Maguire having an opportunity on the half hour mark but shooting wide. Heckler then forced North End to clear for a corner. On 33 minutes Daniel broke through the Preston defence but fortunately for the visitors shot wide. Craig for North End then worked hard to win the ball playing through for Gemma Watson who was judged to be offside. Watson then latched on to a Alison Taberner cross but saw her shot go wide with Craig then trying to meet a Mel Walker ball over the top which was gathered just in front of her by Simpson. Watson then shot wide and Craig over but the elusive equaliser was not to be found and the home side took their 1-0 advantage into the interval.The opening action of the second half saw a Laura Walker corner cleared with Taberner then heading clear a Natalie Haigh free kick. Ten minutes into the half Preston Manager Chris Stammers made his 1st substitution with Laura Walker making way for Hannah Bailey.
Daniel should have extended the lead for Vixens some five minutes later but shot over when through on goal. She however made amends soon after playing in Maguire who beat the offside trap to finish beyond Reader.
North End continued to search for a goal to get back into the game but could not produce anything to trouble Simpson. On 70 minutes the referee produced the 1st yellow card of the game with Vixens captain Michelle Walsh the recipient.
Heckler then won the ball in the midfield for the home side and played the ball across the box for Daniel who should have got her second of the game but scuffed her shot wide. North End then replaced Craig with Sarah McCrea with Leeds goal scorer Maguire making way for Tennisha Watson Phillips. Louise Cafferkey then replaced O’Hara.
Watson was then unlucky to see her shot initially spilled by Simpson who gathered at the second attempt. A North End free kick for a foul on Bailey saw Cafferkey’s attempt headed clear with Watson then shooting over. Bailey then forced Simpson into a save with a Daniel cross for the home side then being headed over by Heckler.
Abbie Blackett then became the recipient of the second yellow card of the day.
Just prior to the end of normal play Bailey had a chance to obtain a consolation goal for North End when taking a Taberner through ball but saw her shot go wide of the far post. Watson and Cafferkey then linked up well to play through to McCrea who shot on target.
The final significant action of the game saw Vixens obtain their third goal. Heckler took a quick throw in to substitute Watson Phillips who finished past the advancing Reader.
North End Manager Stammers concluded that it “had been a bad day at the office after the last weekend’s performance against Derby County”. Player of the game was awarded to Chantelle O’Hara.
Starting line Up Leeds City Vixens Carrie Simpson, Kirsty Robinson, Clare Parker, Michelle Walsh (Captain), Stacey Daniel, Natalie Haigh, Laura Gillespie, Emily Maguire, Emily Heckler, Nicola Robinson, Hannah Chisholm. Subs - Alana Johnson, Tennisha Watson Phillips, Sarah Dobby.
Starting Line Up - PNEWFC, Emma Reader, Alison Taberner, Kim Swarbrick, Abbie Blackett, Vikki Eastwood, Mel Walker, Sarah Berry (Captain), Chantelle O’Hara, Laura Walker, Gemma Watson, Linny Craig. Subs - Danielle Gibbons, Louise Cafferkey, Sarah McCrea, Hannah Bailey, Amie Davidson.
Referee G Marr
Assistants R Woodard & B Hamilton