Carlisle United played hosts to Preston North End at Creighton on Sunday.
With Carlisle’s side a mix of development squad players, players coming back or still carrying injuries and some missing due to long-term injuries, it was going to be a real test against a Preston side who were placed fourth before the game.
The visitors had the first chance of the game on two minutes, when Preston forward Madison Madley shot from the edge of the box putting it wide of the post.
The team from Lancashire then found themselves in front on six minutes, when Abbie Jones put the ball back across goal for Alicia Scott to slot home from inside the box to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Another chance fell for Preston to expand their lead when Madley once again shot at the Carlisle goal, but this time it deflected out for a corner - which led to nothing as we managed to clear.
It took Carlisle 17 minutes to have their first real chance at goal, when Kerri Mallinson created her own opportunity with some good work on the touchline, before going past the defender and hitting her shot into the side netting.
Preston were frustrated when Carlisle stifled their play by pressing and the home side found themselves level with a deserved equaliser soon after, when the ball was won by Bland, before it finally found its way to Mallinson, who saw the Preston goalkeeper off her line and looped the ball over her and into the back of the net to level the score.
It gave the hosts a lift and by the end of the first-half, Carlisle were unlucky not to find themselves ahead after some good work by Mallinson and captain Ciara Bland with the latter having the chance, but her shot went straight at the visiting goalkeeper.
HALF-TIME: CARLISLE UNITED 1-1 PRESTON NORTH END
The second-half provided a cagey opening with half chances coming from both teams, but nothing troubled either goalkeeper.
Preston forged the first big opportunity ten minutes into the second-half, but the chance went wide of goal following a shot from distance by Abi Fenton.
Jessica Cleasby had a chance to put United in front running onto a through ball from captain Bland, but the defender got back in time to deflect the ball out for a corner.
There was good attacking play from Carlisle during the next five minutes, but despite this, it was the visitors who regained the lead courtesy of Madley, whose effort struck the post on the way in on 72 minutes.
Now with Carlisle going for their second equaliser, chances came and went for the hosts, with Preston only offering shots from distance without troubling the Blues’ goal.
The Cumbrians almost equalised at the death when goalscorer Mallinson had a half chance which was straight at the ‘keeper.
This was to be the final opportunity of the game where Carlisle played some good football and applied themselves well, deserving so much more, despite being without a large number of players through injury.
FULL-TIME: CARLISLE UNITED 1-2 PRESTON NORTH END
Teams:
Carlisle United: Chelsea Norris, Sammi Norman, Jade Beal, Janice Alderson, Charlotte Murray, Emma Kenyon, Ciara Bland (captain), Paris Alderson, Kerri Mallinson, Leah Johnston, Jess McGlynn
SUBS: Jessica Cleasby, Sarah Nixon
Preston North End: Justine Elliott, Abi Fenton, Courtney Woodhead, Ella Radcliffe, Katie Woodhead, Belle Quigley, Charlotte Greenwood, Abbie Jones, Madison Madley, Alicia Scott, Eleanor Collins
SUBS: Emma Dodsworth, Evie Murray
GOALS
Carlisle United: (Kerri Mallinson 30’)
Preston North End: (Alicia Scott 6’), (Madison Madley 72’)
