Preston North End Women secured their second 2-2 draw in a week, this time against Coventry City Ladies at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Laura Walker had equalised from the penalty spot shortly before half-time and Beth Stanfield put the lady Lilywhites ahead inside two minutes of the second half.
However Coventry pushed forward for an equaliser and got one with thirteen minutes left when Katie Lowder headed in from close range to share the points in Coventry’s first ever home game at the Ricoh Arena.
Manager Luke Podmore made one change to the starting eleven that drew 2-2 with Sheffield FC Ladies last week with Carly Bayley replacing Alison Taberner at centre back.
Coventry started out on top and created a chance within the opening minute of the game.
Bayley was dispossessed by Lowder on the wing and she crossed for Helen Dermody, only to see her close range effort tipped around the post by Danielle Brown.
The Sky Blues continued their heavy pressure and created three chances in as many minutes with Lowder, Amber Hughes and Dermody all going close to opening the scoring, the latter was perhaps the closest with her smashing an effort against the bar from 25 yards out.
The home side’s pressure paid off in the 18th minute when they took the lead through Dermody.
A chipped ball forward evaded the PNE defence and Dermody lofted the ball over the stranded Brown to take the lead.
The lady Lilywhites responded well to going behind and had chances to level, the most noteworthy being an effort by Chelsea Flanagan in the 30th minute.
Walker played the ball over the top for Flanagan to run on to and she attempted to repeat the success of Dermody, but Coventry goalkeeper Susan Wood recovered well to claim the ball almost on the line.
The former Manchester City striker was the catalyst for PNE’s equaliser in the 37th minute.
She brought down Walker’s free kick in the box before being hauled to the ground by Samantha Quayle and a penalty was awarded with the Welsh international being booked for the foul.
Walker stepped up to take the penalty and sent Wood the wrong way to level the scores.
PNE pushed to take the lead before the interval but Yasmine Swarbrick couldn’t pick out a white shirt after darting past her marker and into the box.
The second half saw a much better start from PNE and they were ahead inside two minutes.
Jade Parker picked out the run of full back Stanfield and she took a touch to set herself and another to poke the ball past Wood and into the back of the net.
Coventry could have hit back within two minutes of PNE’s second goal but Brown was alert enough to tip over an effort from 35 yards from winger Amber Hughes.
Sarah Chadwick was brought on to replace Parker in the 76th minute but she was unable to prevent Coventry’s equaliser a minute later.
Dermody hit the ‘bar for the second time in the game and Lowder was on hand to head in the rebound from close range.
After Coventry’s equaliser the game became stretched with neither team wanting to concede a late goal, Brown keeping PNE in the game with a good save at her near post with two minutes left to deny Destiney Toussaint.
Four minutes of additional time were played at the end of the second half but neither team could nick a late goal and the points were shared.
Up next for PNE is a local derby against neighbours Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
It’s a 7.45pm kick off with free entry for all.
PNE: Brown, Stanfield, Bayley (Carroll 60), Nickson, Forshaw, Walker, Cleaver (Ball 52), Forster, Parker (Chadwick 76), Swarbrick, Flanagan
Subs not used: Hutton, Rawcliffe
Coventry: Wood, Johnson, Quayle, Formaston, Lynch, Miles, Hughes (Gauntlett 59’), Barber (Clough 69’), Lowder, Dermody, Toussaint
Subs not used: Towers, Mellor
However Coventry pushed forward for an equaliser and got one with thirteen minutes left when Katie Lowder headed in from close range to share the points in Coventry’s first ever home game at the Ricoh Arena.
Manager Luke Podmore made one change to the starting eleven that drew 2-2 with Sheffield FC Ladies last week with Carly Bayley replacing Alison Taberner at centre back.
Coventry started out on top and created a chance within the opening minute of the game.
Bayley was dispossessed by Lowder on the wing and she crossed for Helen Dermody, only to see her close range effort tipped around the post by Danielle Brown.
The Sky Blues continued their heavy pressure and created three chances in as many minutes with Lowder, Amber Hughes and Dermody all going close to opening the scoring, the latter was perhaps the closest with her smashing an effort against the bar from 25 yards out.
The home side’s pressure paid off in the 18th minute when they took the lead through Dermody.
A chipped ball forward evaded the PNE defence and Dermody lofted the ball over the stranded Brown to take the lead.
The lady Lilywhites responded well to going behind and had chances to level, the most noteworthy being an effort by Chelsea Flanagan in the 30th minute.
Walker played the ball over the top for Flanagan to run on to and she attempted to repeat the success of Dermody, but Coventry goalkeeper Susan Wood recovered well to claim the ball almost on the line.
The former Manchester City striker was the catalyst for PNE’s equaliser in the 37th minute.
She brought down Walker’s free kick in the box before being hauled to the ground by Samantha Quayle and a penalty was awarded with the Welsh international being booked for the foul.
Walker stepped up to take the penalty and sent Wood the wrong way to level the scores.
PNE pushed to take the lead before the interval but Yasmine Swarbrick couldn’t pick out a white shirt after darting past her marker and into the box.
The second half saw a much better start from PNE and they were ahead inside two minutes.
Jade Parker picked out the run of full back Stanfield and she took a touch to set herself and another to poke the ball past Wood and into the back of the net.
Coventry could have hit back within two minutes of PNE’s second goal but Brown was alert enough to tip over an effort from 35 yards from winger Amber Hughes.
Sarah Chadwick was brought on to replace Parker in the 76th minute but she was unable to prevent Coventry’s equaliser a minute later.
Dermody hit the ‘bar for the second time in the game and Lowder was on hand to head in the rebound from close range.
After Coventry’s equaliser the game became stretched with neither team wanting to concede a late goal, Brown keeping PNE in the game with a good save at her near post with two minutes left to deny Destiney Toussaint.
Four minutes of additional time were played at the end of the second half but neither team could nick a late goal and the points were shared.
Up next for PNE is a local derby against neighbours Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
It’s a 7.45pm kick off with free entry for all.
PNE: Brown, Stanfield, Bayley (Carroll 60), Nickson, Forshaw, Walker, Cleaver (Ball 52), Forster, Parker (Chadwick 76), Swarbrick, Flanagan
Subs not used: Hutton, Rawcliffe
Coventry: Wood, Johnson, Quayle, Formaston, Lynch, Miles, Hughes (Gauntlett 59’), Barber (Clough 69’), Lowder, Dermody, Toussaint
Subs not used: Towers, Mellor