Complete performance as Lady Clarets see off North End

Preston dominated the early stages and only a smart save at her near post by Sophie Valentine, maintained parity.

But as the half progressed, the lady Clarets wrestled control from their hosts.

Winger Rachael Wood sprung the off-side trap and chipped the keeper, but her effort drifted just over, before Danni Cooper’s shot was tipped around the post.

From the corner, skipper Jo Holt thumped a header against the woodwork.

Wood then saw an effort was disallowed for off-side.

The outstanding Charlotte Hartley then forced a superb save, with Jo Rohman’s follow-up also somehow kept out.

Two minutes into the second half, Burnley opened the scoring when Hartley’s cross was turned in by Wood.

The lady Clarets doubled their lead on the hour when star performer Holt slipped the ball into the feet of Wood, who again beat the keeper.

Ten minutes from time, Preston halved the deficit, but the Clarets sealed the points in the final moments when a shot from substitute striker Jade Brindle was parried into the path of Rohman who crashed the ball into the roof of the net.

On Sunday, Burnley Ladies travel to Blackpool.