Bradford City saw their nine game unbeaten streak snapped by league leaders Preston North End on Sunday, losing 2-1 at home in just their second defeat of 2016.
A well contested affair, City took the lead just before the break through Rosie McDonnell as they seeked their first win over the Lilywhites.
However, just as happened in Lancashire in the reverse, the teenager saw her opener goal cancelled out and then bettered, with Preston going on to narrowly win the game.
Jenna Carroll equalised just before the hour following a strong start to the second period by her side, while Yasmine Swarbrick would score the winner 19 minutes from time after reacting quickest to a strong initial save from City goalkeeper Chloe Precious.
The game was a story of two halves; Bradford dominating the first and Preston the second.
The opening few minutes of the match were relatively open with a chance for each side, but Preston’s was on the counter and that would set the scene for the first period.
Skipper Charlotte Stuart was excellently denied from a long range free-kick - before being called into action with a goal line clearance at the other end - while Danielle Whitham also tried her luck from distance and was thwarted.
With six minutes of the first 45 to go, Hannah Campbell had a golden chance as McDonnell delivered a terrific cross after even better work out wide, but the forward could only direct her header over the bar.
However, she was only ruing that miss for three minutes as McDonnell would open the scoring with 42 gone. It was all her own doing too, the winger pressing high, stealing possession off the Preston defence and then finishing on her second attempt.
It was the perfect time to score, so they say, but it only motivated Preston more to come firing out of the blocks after the interval.
This was the Lilywhites’ last game of the season, and they were looking for three points to add to their final tally, preparing to pack up for the campaign, sit back, and hope no one can catch them with their games in hand.
The importance of victory for them became evident with their second half pressure, as the two sides completely changed roles.
Within 12 minutes of the second period, the visitors had already had three chances – the latter of which was put away.
Moments after striking the crossbar, their high pressing in the attacking third finally paid off as they stole the ball back off City and delivered it to the far post, where Carroll was on hand to finish brilliantly.
City could have nicked the lead back less than 10 minutes later as Campbell spotted the ‘keeper off her line and attempted a cheeky lob, but Preston’s number one did well to scramble back and tip the ball over the bar.
Instead, five minutes later Preston would go 2-1 up as Swarbrick poked in the rebound of a teammate’s saved header from a corner.
City’s response saw them move back onto the front foot for the final 20 minutes as they searched for an equaliser.
They nearly found it too when Chantelle O’Hara played a lovely through ball for Campbell, but her effort just fell the wrong side of the post after the opposing ‘keeper did well to race out and put her off.
City would pose problems from dead ball situations as the full time whistle neared, but they could not trouble Preston enough to get something from the game, with the visitors almost grabbing a last minute third but for a goal line clearance.
While both sides enjoyed equal dominance of the game, it was the league leaders that made theirs count more by scoring two goals to get the three points.
For Bradford, it may be the end of a terrific unbeaten streak, but they will have great motivation to restart that this Wednesday in their County Cup final against bitter rivals Leeds.