Wanting to avenge their defeat a few weeks ago, Dale started brightly with fast flowing football that Preston found hard to contain. In the tenth minute, with Dale pressing strongly, Lizzie Paul chased a through ball down the middle. The goalkeeper raced out but failed to clear, and Lizzie Paul claimed the opener. Preston tried to fight back, but Dale kept the momentum and doubled their lead with a crisply taken goal by Coral O'Keefe.
The visitors were struggling to cope with Dale's passing and movement, and a wonderful counter attack saw Ashley Grindrod split the defence with a pinpoint pass, to release Fiona Reddin who slotted her shot into the bottom corner for Dale's third.
Preston were now looking deflated, and on the stroke of half time were hit again when Coral O'Keefe slipped the ball to Lizzie Paul. She timed her pass to perfection, to release O'Keefe who slammed the ball home to claim her second and Dale's fourth.
In the second period Preston looked more determined and composed, but with Anna Genders, Zoe Cooney and Lizzy Hamer controlling midfield, it wasn't long before Coral O' Keefe completed her hatrick, beating Preston's offside trap to fire home.
Daniella Walsh, Jenny Ashton, Danielle Thorpe and Ashley Grindrod looked solid in defence, which meant goalkeeper Beth Walsh was hardly troubled.
Rhianne Ward-Hilton and Saffron Parfitt worked hard and caused problems on the left and right flanks respectively, and, as Preston tried to salvage a consolation in the last quarter of the match, strong tackling from Lizzie White, aided by Zoe Cooney and Anna Genders, ensured that Dale retained a clean sheet and ran out worthy winners.
A great performance by Dale which capped a challenging but fine season for the team.
