Preston North End Women won on penalties at Deepdale after a goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers.
It was an end-to-end 90 minutes which saw Madison Hadley have North End’s best chances, while the visitors were denied on a few occasions by Justine Elliott.
With the game ending goalless, it went to penalties and a save from Elliott and four converted spot-kicks saw North End come out on top.
With more than 400 people in attendance in the Deepdale sunshine, PNE almost got off to a great start inside just four minutes as Hadley rounded the ‘keeper, but the backtracking Regan Lord blocked the effort on the line.
PNE were looking threatening with set pieces, with Caitlin Wolfenden coming close with a header in the 11th minute.
At the other end, Eboni Bradshaw broke through on goal for the visitors and it looked as though goalkeeper Elliott was beaten, until she stuck out her right leg and came up with a vital touch to stop the attacker.
That wasn’t the only time Wanderers managed to get beyond the PNE backline in the first half, but the Lilywhites kept coming up with important defensive challenges.
Arguably the best chance of the half came in the third minute of stoppage-time as a long ball over the top made its way to Hadley, who sent an effort just over the bar from the edge of the area.
Into the second half, Katie Woodhead’s free-kick just before the hour mark was well held by goalkeeper Eve Ebanks, while a minute later Bolton squandered a good opportunity from inside the area.
15 minutes from time, Lord tried to catch Elliott out with a lofted free-kick from all of 40 yards, but it was just too high.
North End’s biggest threat all day, Hadley again broke through on goal again as the ball broke kindly, but it was sent over the crossbar.
PNE kept pushing for a winner in the game’s late stages and couldn’t have come much closer than in the third minute of stoppage-time when Abbie Jones’ effort struck the woodwork.
The game therefore went to penalties and a save from Elliott gave Abi Cookson the chance to win it and after she found the roof of the net, North End celebrated victory at Deepdale.
PNE line-up: Elliott; Radcliffe, Wolfenden, C.Woodhead, Collins; Fleming, K.Woodhead; Greenwood, Dodsworth, Scott; Hadley. Subs: Hajdukiewicz, Quigley, Jones, Wignall, Cookson.
Attendance: 408.
