A storming start helped Preston North End WFC to see off the challenge of Newcastle United in the preliminary round of the League Cup competition at Irongate.
Simon Gerrard's side were good value for the win - their first of the season after narrow setbacks in the opening two league encounters - and will take great heart from victory against the determined Tynesiders.
North End started brightly and took the lead in the sixth minute; a Laura Walker through ball being put past the oncoming Magpies keeper Kane by striker Sam Cadwallader.
The lead was increased within the space of a couple of minutes, Louise Cafferkey's lob from the left finding the back of the net and making it 2-0 to the home side.
Newcastle's first opportunity straight from the restart saw an unmarked player on the right head into keeper Jenny Horrocks' arms.
Both defences then coped well with corners awarded with Melanie Reay for Newcastle having the next best opportunity with a shot wide of the post. North End's Walker then saw her shot go wide in the 23rd minute after receiving a pass from the unselfish Cadwallader. On the half hour mark the Newcastle keeper was thankful for the post which saved her team from going 3-0 down from Cadwallader's attempt. The final chance of the half again fell to Cadwallader just failed to reach a Hannah Bailey cross.
Newcastle made substitutions at the interval, switching to a more attacking formation and quickly showing their intentions by heading against the post in the opening minute of the half. In the 53rd minute, North End keeper Horrocks did well to gather a Newcastle shot from distance that had travelled through a wall of both sets of players, while six minutes later the away side were awarded a free kick which was headed towards goal but tipped over by Horrocks for a corner.
Kerry Wareing for the Whites took to the field of play, replacing Louise Cafferkey on 60 minutes. In the following minute from a Newcastle corner Horrocks pulled off a good save, Angela Willoughby then carrying the ball out of defence prior to being replaced by Cathy Jones. North End's Cadwallader and Mel Martin had opportunities to put the game beyond Newcastle's reach but both saw their shots go over the bar.
On 75 minutes Newcastle did get back into the game, finding the back of the net from a goal mouth scramble as Melanie Reay volleyed home.
Danielle Ayers replaced goal scorer Cadwallader for Preston, with the Whites then having an opportunity to extend their lead when Wareing's cross was met by the head of Cathy Jones but cleared by the visiting defence.
In the final ten minutes, Newcastle pushed for the desired equaliser in an attempt to force the tie into extra time, with a shot over and one hitting the crossbar. On the counter attack Mel Martin managed to work some space well but saw her shot go over the top.
In the dying minutes, Newcastle did find the back of the net but the linesman rightly ruled offside, a further attempt came back off the post and with virtually the final kick of the game they put a free-kick wide.
The final whistle signalled victory for the home side who had dominated the opening period against opposition who maintained their efforts to the very end.
Progression to the first round sees North End drawn against fellow Northern Premier League opponents in the form of Curzon Ashton. This is again a home tie at Bamber Bridge on Sunday 14th September.
The side's return to league action is on Thursday evening, 4th September, with a trip to Valley Road, Flixton, home to Manchester City.
