Report

Preston North End 3 BWLFC 0
The girls had worked tremendously hard to get themselves into the situation where a win in this last match of the season would mean finishing joint top of the league. Unfortunately I think the occasion and importance of the match got to a few players as the initiative was handed to Preston in a uncharacteristic edgy and nervous 1st half performance.Preston started aggressively and put Bolton out of their stride. Early Preston pressure eventually told with a free header from a corner on 10 mins giving them a deserved lead. The goal shook Bolton up and they responded well only to see 2 efforts cleared of the line in the space of 30 seconds. A lob from Kirsty Chapman was cleared by a great clearance from a Preston defender and then from the resulting corner Emily Morses close range header was clawed off the line by the keeper. Having narrowly failed to pull level, Bolton fell to the sucker punch and went further behind when Reb Whittam misjudged a high ball into the box and it ended up in the goal 0-2.preston then hit the cross bar from their next attack, before Bolton tried to respond again, this time Nic Urens shit going narrowly wide. Just on half time Preston deliver a fall blow when another long range effort flew into the net to make it 0-3 at ht. the girls were asked to respond in the 2nd half and match Preston's intense pressure game. To their credit the girls flew out of the traps and quite easily could have scored twice in the opening minute of the half, when Nic again fired just wide and then Kelly Bents close range effort was scrambled to safety. Bolton were now dictating possession and Preston couldn't exert anything like the pressure they had in the 1st half. On 70 minutes Preston had a player sent off after fouling Nic on the edge of the box as she was through on goal. Bolton now tried to make their extra player count and pushed Preston back but just couldn't find a finish to match their good approach play. FT 0-3. A disappointing end to the season particularly as the girls had fought hard to get the opportunity to take the season down to the final game. Nevertheless less this has been a superb season and the girls ultimately finished up as runners up to Preston in div 2 and as a consequence have been promoted to the 1st division. Fantastic effort from every single player. Club Record number of goals scored, fewest goals conceded, most wins in a season, all in all another highly successful season from a brilliant set of players. Well done everybody.