Preston North End Women took all three points in their latest league encounter, beating Morecambe 2-1.
The game started off evenly with most of the possession being in the middle of the pitch. However, as the game developed, the Lilywhites began to create more chances.
A strong counter-attack by the home team was rewarded with a corner, which Katie Woodhead swung into the box and the goalkeeper had to get her hand to it to keep her team in the game.
Soon after, Morecambe broke past the last line of defence, only to shoot straight at the safe hands of Justine Elliott in the PNE net.
The game became increasingly competitive, with shouts from both sidelines about refereeing decisions that didn’t go the way either side were hoping for.
Opportunities for PNE kept coming, as Georgia Parkinson played a fantastic ball into the box to Freya Hunt, who was unlucky not to get onto the end of it.
All this was forgotten as moments later, Madison Hadley played a selfless ball to Lottie Greenwood, who maintained her composure to put her side ahead with a powerful strike.
Just minutes later, Hadley got on the scoresheet herself with a solo goal; burying the ball in the bottom corner to double PNE’s lead.
Beth Wilson went close to extending PNE’s advantage, but the Morecambe goalkeeper kept her team in the game.
A change in formation in the second half saw Hadley go off and Sam Ball come on. Ball was straight into the action, seeing her strike travel over the crossbar.
Morecambe fought back, forcing Elliott to make a big save before hitting the crossbar as the Lilywhites defenders cleared the ball away from the rebound.
In the final few stages, a handball was given in Morecambe’s favour and the away side made it count from the resulting free-kick.
PNE held on, though, to seal the 2-1 victory.
After the game, Manager David Rawcliffe gave his thoughts: “I thought the girls played really well, starting off strong and applying pressure from the whistle and forcing them back.
"The message at half-time was patience and as a team, we kept our professionalism throughout the match.”