Preston NE Ladies 3 Macc Town Ladies 2: MACCLESFIELD travelled to Premier side Preston for a League Cup tie but their hopes were dashed by a last-minute winner for the home side.
With Preston doing all the early attacking, star player Beth Rankine in goal produced two excellent saves.
On the counter-attack, the Silkgirls looked dangerous and Sophie Thomason and Jenna Mape went close but, on 20 minutes the home side took a deserved lead when a corner wasn’t cleared and the ball was poked home.
Ten minutes before the break, a hopeful long ball was collected by a speedy forward who shot home to make the score 2-0.
On the stroke of half-time a neat one-two set up Thomason who fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
With 15 minutes left a pass by Carly Smith found Thomason who rounded the keeper and crossed for Beth Clark to head into the empty goal.
The game was now there for the taking and in the final minute Jodie Burgess fired a shot over the advancing keeper, only for it to hit the outside of the post.
With extra-time looming Preston forced a corner and an excellent ball was met by the centre-half who headed home, and Macc had no time to reply.
