Thursday August 28, 2008
National Division, Shawbridge

Rovers 2-2 Leeds Carnegie

ROVERS Ladies picked up their first point of the new season, but were denied all three by a controversial late equaliser at Shawbridge.

Katie Holtham opened the scoring for the visitors when she poked home the rebound after her initial effort was well saved by Rovers' stand-in stopper Krystal Parker.

But Rovers responded well and found themselves in front courtesy of two Natalie Preston goals in 10 second-half minutes against her former club.

The skipper levelled the scores with a skilful lob from 20 yards, before heading home Jenna Carroll's cross to hand Rovers the lead.

And a late Leeds onslaught seemed to be in vain, until Sophie Walton popped up at a corner to salvage a point in the 96th minute of the game.

Manager Adam Lakeland said: "In our opening three games, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb by consistently going behind.

"There are no easy games in this league. You have got to be ready to fight and work for the full 90 minutes, not just 45.

"We made a change at half-time, by putting Natalie Preston into a more advanced position and it's obviously worked. But it wasn't just her performance in the second half - everyone improved.

"To concede a goal so late, it obviously felt like a defeat and we are all really disappointed with where the referee got seven minutes of added time from.

"But we have got to learn from that disappointment and hope it makes us stronger in future games. Overall, we would probably have taken a draw against Leeds before the game, because they are a good side who finished third and reached the FA Cup final last season."

ROVERS: Parker, Carroll, Twohig, Brewer, Byrne, Burke (Penny 87), Shepherd, Preston, Parry (McDougall 73), Anderton, McCoy (Campbell 46).

Subs not used: Brown, Norris.