Carlisle’s next mission was to try and overcome Preston at Austin Friars. By some mischance this was the Cumbrians only home fixture out of their first four games of the season.
In similar fashion to their first game against Formby Carlisle started strongly by dominating possession and created a number of attacking opportunities in the first twenty or so minutes with Katie and Abbie’s speed causing a lot of misgivings for the Preston defenders.

However, also like their previous game Carlisle were misfiring in front of goal.

So it was with some consternation for the Cumbrians that the visitors’ Caitlin Dodd opened the scoring for the Lancastrians through their only chance of the half thanks to a misjudgment by the home rearguard.

Carlisle rocked by this mishap and feeling a bit miserable were soon pressing forward again and applied more pressure on their opponents but they remained behind at the interval.

At the break Carlisle were determined to put all misfortunes aside and make amends. After half time the home side cranked up the intensity but as before they committed more misdeeds and misdemeanors in front of the Preston goalmouth but it would be fair to say the opposition goalkeeper was on inspired form .Even so Carlisle managed to get the ball onto the Preston goal line twice and still could not force the ball in.

With only ten minutes to go it was beginning to look as if Carlisle would be defeated thanks to their own misadventure when up stepped Captain Holly who launched a missile towards the visitors’ goalmouth and Katie deflected it high into her opponents ‘net.

Phew! Some relief but could Carlisle go on and win the game? Attacks on the Preston defence now came in waves including mazy runs from deep by both dribblers in chief Alice and Izzie. There were a miscellany of further attempts on goal as Carlisle tried to correct what they believed was a miscarriage of justice. But if you don’t take advantage of the chances to score you won’t win. Preston hung on and Carlisle didn’t win. Lots of effort. Lots of good play. Lots of incursions into the opponents circle but no misconception overall .This was a great opportunity missed.