Preston's women came from behind to claim a point at home to mid-table Leicester City at the QED Stadium on Sunday.

Leicester took the lead straight after half time through striker Leanne Griffin's impressive curling shot.

But North End kept plugging away and got their reward in the 75th minute courtesy of Hannah Bailey's close range effort.



The Lilywhites started the game brightly and created the first chance of the game in the fifth minute when Abby Blackett's looping cross was met by Sam Cadwallader but she was unable to get the ball under control.

In the eighth minute, City came close to opening the scoring when Natasha Meade played a through ball to Courtney Sweetman Kirk but Emma Reader was quick off of her line to prevent the shot.

It was a different story up at the other end though in the 14th minute when Leicester goalkeeper Sophie Le Gros spilled Laura Walker's cross but was able to smother the ball before Cadwallader could pounce.



Preston started to control the game and had the better of the first half chances with Bailey's shot just flying over before Gemma Watson found herself one-on-one with Le Gros. Unfortunately for Watson, Le Gros was quick off her line and won the ball off Preston's forward before Watson was able to round her.

North End came close to taking the lead two minutes before half time through Cadwallader. Mel Martin drove on from midfield and unleashed a powerful shot which was palmed away by Le Gros, only as far as Bailey who crossed to Cadwallader but her glancing header just went wide.

Chris Stammers' side had the best of the chances in the first half but few could have predicted how Leicester would react after the restart.



City were on the front foot straight after half time and winger Natalie Reay played a good ball inside to Griffin who took a touch and bent the ball past Reader, who was only able to stand and watch the ball curl into the top corner.

This goal came as a shock to the Lilywhites but Watson was close to levelling the scoreline in the 51st minute as her long range effort flew past Le Gros' far post.

Watson came close again five minutes later when Louise Belcher's cross was headed away from Leicester defender Jade Radburn only as far as Watson who was just unable to keep her volley on target.



The home side continued to press and were rewarded for their persistence in the 75th minute. Cadwallader found herself in a wide position and played in a looping cross into Leicester's six yard box. Le Gros dropped what looked to be a routine catch but Bailey was on hand to bundle the ball in and give her side a deserved equaliser.

Both teams then had chances in the last ten minutes to win the game but there was to be no late drama and both sides claimed a share of the spoils.

North End manager Stammers felt that his team's performance in the second half had warranted them obtaining a point.

Preston travel to Sheffield Wednesday next week in the hope of getting back to winning ways and make it two wins out of two in the league this season against the Yorkshire outfit.

PNE: Reader, Belcher (Taberner 73), Jones, Martin, Watson, Cadwallader, Bailey, Berry (S Walker, 67), L Walker (Cafferkey, 73), Blackett, Eastwood. Unused subs: Gibbons, Forshaw.

Leicester City: Le Gros, Handley, Rawle, Jones, Radburn, Impey, Reay, Toussaint, Meade (Dale), Griffin (Lowder, 81), Sweetman Kirk (Fellows, 60). Unused sub: Smith.

Report by Treve Whitford. Photos by Karen Browne.