Preston and Curzon Ashton went goal crazy for the second time in a fortnight, but this time the league's bottom placed side gained revenge for the earlier cup defeat by coming out on top in the seven-goal league encounter at Irongate.
The visitors had the opening opportunity, a ball played by their midfield over the top for striker McLeod who forced Lilywhites keeper Jenny Horrocks into a save. Hannah Bailey followed this up by coming close for Preston before Curzon striker Kelly Dean then struck the crossbar.
Following this Preston then had a good spell of possession and opportunities and their reward came in the 10th minute when Alison Taberner's left foot strike from a Laura Walker corner found the back of the net.
In the 15th minute, a Sarah McCrea cross was dropped by the Curzon keeper who gathered at the second attempt. In the following minute McCrea was unlucky again when the keeper smothered her shot as she struck from a Walker cross.
North End continued to press for another goal with Bailey and strike partner Sam Cadwallader providing openings for both McCrea and Sarah Berry who failed to capitalise. With Curzon not posing any real threat on goal it was North End who had the final chance before the half time whistle, a Taberner free kick over the top finding McCrea who couldn't find sufficient power in her shot to trouble the Curzon keeper Jade Thornborough.
Into the second half, within the opening minute Bailey forced a save out of Thornborough who cleared for a corner and with Curzon boxed in and struggling to clear their lines Preston extended their advantage to 2-0 with Walker's excellent strike from some distance out into the top right hand corner.
After five minutes of the second period, North End were awarded a penalty when a Curzon defender handled but Thornborough saved the spot kick from Berry and produced another good save to prevent the follow up shot finding the back of the net.
Curzon now grew in confidence from the upturn in their fortunes, and in the 56th minute found their first goal of the game, a free kick from the right wing eluding the Preston back line and keeper into the top left hand corner. Within a couple of minutes their equaliser had been obtained, a ball from midfield over the top to McLeod who finished coolly over the advancing keeper.
With the scores level, Bailey had the opportunities to give her North Ebd side the lead once more but Thornborough thwarted both chances and it was the visitors who took the lead when North End defender Jones got her head on the ball to prevent McLeod racing through on goal, only to see her interception divert the ball past Horrocks into the bottom left hand corner.
With 15 minutes remaining, Curzon extended their lead to 4-2 with Kelly Dean finding the back of the net from a corner following a goal mouth scramble.
With but 10 minutes remaining and his side two goals behind, manager Simon Gerrard replaced goal scorer Walker with Mel Martin. The substitute produced the goods within five minutes of her arrival; a free kick deep in the Preston half taken by Jones crossed into the centre by Taberner before Cadwallader in turn fed Martin, who made no mistake when latching onto the ball across the box.
With only a couple of minutes to play Gemma Watson replaced Bailey but North End ran out of time to obtain an equaliser and a share of the points. Again Preston should have got all three points from the game but failure to take opportunities that came their way and to deal with the Curzon attack cost them dearly.
PNE: Jenny Horrocks, Alison Taberner, Louise Belcher, Sarah Jones, Vikki Eastwood, Laura Walker, Sarah Berry (capt), Anisha Bateman, Sarah McCrea, Sam Cadwallader, Hannah Bailey. Subs : Mel Martin, Gemma Watson and Louise Cafferkey.
Next week the womens' first team continue with their league cup campaign with a home tie against Southern Division opposition in the form of Brighton & Hove Albion. While the first team were in league action on Sunday, the reserves enjoyed a thumping 6-2 victory over Manchester City in the Reserve League Cup.
