Preston's women slumped to a disappointing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United at the QED Stadium, Bamber Bridge on Sunday.
This scoreline was kind to the away side as North End showed plenty of attacking prowess throughout the game but lacked any conviction in their finishing on the day.
Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, United were able to take their chances through Rachel Furness (two), Sarah Wilson and Melanie Reay (two).
The Magpies started brightly and managed to open the scoring in the seventh minute after Furness connected to Kelly Ridley's through ball and poked the ball into the bottom corner past a helpless Danielle Gibbons.
Following the goal, Preston started to get a feel for the game with Gemma Watson starting to cause the Newcastle defenders problems. Watson helped create North End's first chance when she went on a run from the halfway line and squared the ball to Hannah Bailey on the edge of the penalty area who was just unable to get her shot away.
Bailey had another good chance a minute later and was unlucky not to level the score when her clever lob over United goalkeeper Sarah Eadon narrowly missed the target.
The chances kept on coming for the home side with Watson again at the heart of the action. Sarah Berry took a quick throwing to Watson who turned her marker outside the penalty area and unleashed a curling effort that was well caught by Eadon.
Preston started to dominate the play after conceding but Newcastle always posed a threat on Gibbons' goal and managed to double their lead in the 24th minute. North End were only able to clear a deep Newcastle corner as far as Wilson on the edge of the penalty area who drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
Chris Stammers' side reacted to this goal like they did with the first by dominating the play in the middle of the park. Bailey and Watson were again heavily involved in Preston's next chance after Bailey capped off a good run with a fine cross to Watson in front of goal who was unable to find the back of the net.
Just before the break, Watson had a carbon copy of her curling effort earlier in the game but this time it was no trouble for Eadon who ensured her side didn't concede before half time.
North End started the second half brightly and in the 48th minute, Laura Walker picked out Anisha Bateman with her floated cross but Bateman's header was well saved by Eadon. After this chance, Newcastle started to dictate the play and scored a third goal in the 54th minute through Reay after she reacted quickly to Furness' long range effort which crashed off the crossbar into her path.
Following this goal, Stammers made a triple substitution in the hope of salvaging something from the game. However, the Magpies were able to take advantage of an attacking Preston outfield and went onto score two more goals in the last 20 minutes courtesy of a Reay lob and a long range effort from Furness.
North End were unlucky to have conceded five goals but can take comfort from some of the football they displayed and the chances they were able to conjure up throughout the 90 minutes.
Stammers' team will be looking to bounce back from this league defeat when they take on Lincoln City, again at the QED Stadium, next Sunday.
PNE: Danielle Gibbons, Louise Belcher, Anisha Bateman, Alison Taberner, Sarah Jones, Louise Cafferkey (sub Sarah Walker 61), Gemma Watson, Hannah Bailey (sub Sam Cadwallader 61), Sarah Berry (captain), Laura Walker (sub Mel Martin 61), Vikki Eastwood. Subs not used: Linny Craig, Abbie Blackett.
Newcastle United: Sarah Eadon, Rae Taylor, Rachel Furness, Kelly Ridley, Sarah Wilson, Rachel Coleman, Ruth Sutcliffe, Stacy Crooks, Melanie Reay, Amy Ram, Stephanie Eadon. Subs: Kayte Brooks, Amber Whiteley, Bethanie Gardener.
Report by Treve Whitford.
