Whitehaven Ladies got back on track with a superb 3-0 win at Preston North End, making amends for last week’s poor home display.
Haven started the game full of confidence and took it to the hosts, keeping possession, moving the ball effectively, constantly getting into favourable attacking positions.
Whitehaven made the possession count when they went 1-0 up inside the first 10 minutes.
After picking herself up from being pushed in a high ball challenge, centre midfielder Sophie May relished the opportunity and smashed the resulting free kick into the top corner from 25 yards.
The score should have been 2-0 on the 13th minute after May won the ball in midfield. From there she played a square ball to Maddi Hawthorne who then threaded it through to a hard running Eden Stainton.
She hit a fierce low drive which the Preston keeper turned away with her legs.
Whitehaven continued to set the tempo and carved out numerous chances, the best of which came on the 24th minute.
Ellie-May Callander dispossessed the Preston left back then angled a drive which the goalkeeper fumbled into the path of Stainton.
Stainton thought she had a simple tap in, but the keeper made amends with a fantastic block which prevented a certain goal.
Whitehaven went close again in the 27th minute when Hawthorne won the ball in midfield. She then played a square ball to Scarlett McAvoy whose shot was blocked for a corner.
From the resulting corner, which was delivered inch perfect from Callander, Stainton found herself with a free header which she put over from three yards.
Whitehaven should have doubled the lead on the 39th minute when a fantastic cross field ball from May was flicked on by Ash McAllister.
Stainton tam to beat the last defender before striking a shot low to the keeper’s right. Again, the goalkeeper was down smartly to keep the ball out.
The Preston goalkeeper made another spectacular save in the 41st minute.
A poor goal kick only went as far as the edge of the 18 yard box to the feet of Stainton. She then laid it back to McAllister and her first time snap shot was pushed onto the post by the diving goalkeeper at full stretch.
Last chance of the half again fell Whitehaven’s way when McAvoy dispossessed a Preston midfielder.
She then played a square ball to May who switched the play to Sienna McNicholas who played a quick 1-2 with McAllister then lashed a left foot shot wide from ten yards.
Whitehaven started the second half like they finished the first, applying constant pressure to the Preston goal. One shot each from May and McAllister in the first two minutes were beaten away by the busy Preston goalkeeper.
Whitehaven did get a second goal in the 49th minute when McAvoy won the ball again in midfield. She then played it to Emmi Davidson who hit a fantastic diagonal ball to May. She slid it to McAllister to drill it home from a tight angle for her ninth of the season.
Whitehaven sealed their win, making it 3-0 in the 60th minute when another poor ball played out from the Preston goalkeeper was picked up by May 25 yards out.
May skilfully drove the ball forward to the edge of the 18-yard box before unleashing a shot which gave the keeper no chance as it arrowed into the top right-hand corner.
Whitehaven continued to dominate the second half without creating further clear-cut chances.
Preston were struggling to get out of their own half until they were nearly gifted a goal in the 84th minute, when a back-pass was miskicked by the Whitehaven goalkeeper.
Luckily, she reacted quickly enough to prevent the ball crossing the line!
Whitehaven held strong for the last five minutes to record a brilliant 3-0 victory on the road.
