Preston North End Women were held to a draw at home on Sunday afternoon against relegation threatened Sporting Club Albion Ladies.
Chelsea Flanagan’s 23rd minute strike had cancelled out Kelly Allen’s opener to secure a point for the Lilywhites, who remain fifth in the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division.
In wet and windy conditions, the opening to the game was a fairly even affair before the away side took the lead in the 17th minute.
Emily Hutton attempted a cross field pass that was intercepted by Allen who applied the finish from the edge of the area to give Sporting Club the advantage.
However, it wasn’t long until PNE were level as Flanagan added another goal to her impressive tally for the season.
The former Manchester City striker played in Sarah Chadwick down the left wing before making a darting run into the box towards the back post.
17-year-old Chadwick spotted her run and picked her out with a perfectly weighted pass to give Flanagan an easy finish to level the scores.
The home side pushed for a second goal as the first half came to a close but were denied by the width of a post after Flanagan’s deflected effort from 25 yards beat Rebecca Thomas in the Albion goal.
Manager Luke Podmore made a change at the half time break, bringing on Keeleigh Savage for Jade Parker for her first league appearance in eleven months after picking up a serious injury.
The substitution seemed to spark PNE into life as they created two good chances within the opening fifteen minutes of the second half.
First, Alice Forshaw saw her 30 yard free kick cannon off the bar before Flanagan had a goal ruled out for offside as Savage stretched to poke home from close range.
Preston continued to apply the pressure to the Sporting Club Albion defence and came close again in the 64th minute.
Chadwick created room for herself on the edge of the area and got a shot away, but Thomas was equal to it and tipped it onto the post and away from danger.
The game seemed to slip into a lull as the clocked ticked towards the 90th minute with neither team creating any chances.
Albion’s Leanne Robinson had the final chance of the game but her shot clipped the bar and the two teams shared the points.
Up next for the Lilywhites is another home fixture at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium against Nottingham Forest Ladies on Sunday 19th April, 2pm kick off and free entry for all.
In wet and windy conditions, the opening to the game was a fairly even affair before the away side took the lead in the 17th minute.
Emily Hutton attempted a cross field pass that was intercepted by Allen who applied the finish from the edge of the area to give Sporting Club the advantage.
However, it wasn’t long until PNE were level as Flanagan added another goal to her impressive tally for the season.
The former Manchester City striker played in Sarah Chadwick down the left wing before making a darting run into the box towards the back post.
17-year-old Chadwick spotted her run and picked her out with a perfectly weighted pass to give Flanagan an easy finish to level the scores.
The home side pushed for a second goal as the first half came to a close but were denied by the width of a post after Flanagan’s deflected effort from 25 yards beat Rebecca Thomas in the Albion goal.
Manager Luke Podmore made a change at the half time break, bringing on Keeleigh Savage for Jade Parker for her first league appearance in eleven months after picking up a serious injury.
The substitution seemed to spark PNE into life as they created two good chances within the opening fifteen minutes of the second half.
First, Alice Forshaw saw her 30 yard free kick cannon off the bar before Flanagan had a goal ruled out for offside as Savage stretched to poke home from close range.
Preston continued to apply the pressure to the Sporting Club Albion defence and came close again in the 64th minute.
Chadwick created room for herself on the edge of the area and got a shot away, but Thomas was equal to it and tipped it onto the post and away from danger.
The game seemed to slip into a lull as the clocked ticked towards the 90th minute with neither team creating any chances.
Albion’s Leanne Robinson had the final chance of the game but her shot clipped the bar and the two teams shared the points.
Up next for the Lilywhites is another home fixture at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium against Nottingham Forest Ladies on Sunday 19th April, 2pm kick off and free entry for all.