A last minute equaliser from skipper Vicky Charnley ensured PNEWFC grabbed a point in a thrilling 3-3 tie against a resilient Leeds Vixens.
Centre back Charnley climbed above the Vixens defence to meet a Louise Cafferkay cross, powering a header past a helpless Carina Fuller in the visitors' goal.
North End manager Andy Burgess made five changes from last week's disappointing result against Curzon Ashton in the League Cup, hoping fresh new faces would change his side's fortunes in this all important first game of the new league campaign.
To Burgess' delight Preston made the perfect start with as little as three minutes on the clock, North End took the lead as they hit the ground running. Hannah Bailey, one of the five players to come into the side had a crucial part to play in the opening goal.
PNE caught the visitors off guard when Angela Willoughby played an onside Bailey through on goal, the striker could only shoot straight at keeper Fuller but winger Laura Walker was there to collect the rebound firing the Lilywhites into an early lead.
Preston looked dangerous in their attacking play in the opening 20 minutes as they were searching to improve on their single goal advantage. But the team will have been fully aware of the previous week's occurrence when they lost the game after initially taking the lead.
North End were soon in a similar situation as Leeds hit them with a double sucker punch inside five minutes, coming from behind to take the lead.
Their first goal came in the 22nd minute from the run of play as Meganne Paul levelled proceedings at the QED Stadium. Paul beat the North End offside trap as she burst clear through on goal to slide the ball underneath Emma Reader.
The second came moments later courtesy of striker Sarah Dobby as she had the simplest of finishes after being left unmarked by the Preston backline. Midfielder Willoughby tripped Paul on the left hand side, just outside the penalty area and the referee awarded a free kick. Paul then delivered a cross from which Dobby had the easiest of headers as she flicked it into the bottom right hand corner, turning the game completely on its head.
After such a promising start everything seemed to be going wrong for Preston as a lack of concentration in defence was costing them severely.
Matters got worse for PNEWFC in the 32nd minute as Leeds stormed into a 3-1 lead when Stacey Daniels capitalised on a poor North End clearance to put the visitors into full control, with a brave finish as she collided heavily with keeper Reader during the lead up to the goal.
The game could have been completely over by half time as Paul's curling effort went inches over the bar.
As soon as everything seemed down and out for the Lilywhites, Chantelle O'Hara popped up with Preston's second of the game five minutes before half time, giving Burgess's side renewed optimism going into the second half.
Great skill from Walker saw her jinx past Annie Highway to play the ball out wide for Bailey to run at the two Leeds centre backs. Bailey showed her lightning pace to escape the challenges and cross the ball into the box. Tammy Burgess, who had run the full distance of the pitch to keep up with the attack, was left free with just the keeper to beat. The full back was denied though after Fuller got a hand to the shot only for O'Hara to follow up with the rebound, putting Preston right back in this thrilling league opener.
Preston came out for the second half in similar fashion as the first, and were unlucky not to be level early on as Bailey had her goal ruled out for offside.
A great tackle from keeper Reader kept Preston in the game as Leeds almost regained their two goal advantage. Daniels and Reader reignited their rivalry from the first half but Reader came out on top this time, getting a crucial clearance in before Daniels could nip in to score.
Manager Burgess changed things round in an attempt to salvage at least a point from the game, as he brought on the experienced Cafferkey and striker Lynne Craig. Preston also changed to a 4-4-2 formation.
Preston were creating chances but unable to convert as it looked as if they were going to leave the game empty handed. The Lilywhites' greatest opportunity fell to Bailey who was unfortunate not to score as she shot agonisingly wide after great work by beating Bebella Kendall
But just as time looked to have run out for North End, Captain Charnley came to her team's rescue powering home substitute Cafferkey's cross into the roof of the net with 89 minutes on the clock.
After the game, Burgess spoke of his disappointment with the result. He said: "Well it was a point, but I was disappointed by the way that we defended in the first half and how we let them score three goals.
"It would have helped if people had done their jobs properly and took more responsibility but we showed good character to come back into it in the second half."
PNE: Reader, Eastwood, Charnley, Wootton, Berry, Willoughby (Cafferkey 60), O'Hara, Taberner (Craig 54), Burgess (Sherwood 75), Bailey, Walker. Unused Subs: Skull, Westerman.
Leeds Vixens: Fuller, Highway, Cockerrl, Haigh, Clarke, Kendell, Walsh, Paul (Speneckley 66),Dobby, Daniel, Lipman. Unused Subs: Smart, Birel.
Report by Jonathon Swift.
