Preston North End Women got back to winning ways on Sunday as they beat Bradford City Women 3-1 at Thackley AFC.
An early double from Keeleigh Savage and a goal from Paige Forster secured the three points for the Lilywhites against their Yorkshire counterparts.
A fast paced start for PNE saw them score two early goals with Savage the beneficiary of two pinpoint crosses from Melissa Ball and Beth Stanfield.
First, Stanfield sent over a cross in the fourth minute to find the unmarked Savage in the box to head in past Carrie Simpson in the Bradford goal.
Four minutes later, Katie Anderton sent Ball clear of the defence and she rounded Simpson before floating a delivery in to Savage for her second of the game to double PNE’s lead.
Danielle Brown was rarely tested in the opening period of the game with the closest effort from Bradford sailing over the bar from the edge of the area.
It wasn’t until the 28th minute when Brown was involved in the action.
Her clearance came straight back towards her and Rosie McDonnell chipped the ball over the onrushing Brown to give Bradford a way back into the game.
Manager Mark Read made a change at half-time as Forster replaced Rebecca Foster and it was the substitute who scored North End’s third of the afternoon.
Laura Walker sent in a free kick from the right hand side of the pitch and Forster met it with a diving header for her first goal since November.
Following PNE’s third goal, Bradford pushed forward for another but failed in their attempts with Brown denying them twice late on.
She first saved from close range after a goal mouth scramble, before tipping a long range effort from Rebecca Kendell around the post.
The result means that PNE are now up to fifth in the league and are only one point off Sporting Club Albion Ladies in fourth place with four games in hand.
However they face a tough task in their next league game as they take on leaders Sheffield FC Ladies at Bamber Bridge on 13th April.
PNE lineup: Brown, Stanfield, Bayley, Carroll, Forshaw, Walker (c), Foster (Forster 45), Anderton, Ball, Savage (Charlesworth 72), Watson (Grocott 68)