Our Under 10s won the prestigious Skelmersdale Athletic National 7 a side competition  on Saturday 8 June 2013 to go alongside their League Cup win earlier in the season . The win at Skelmersdale rounds a terrific first season for the youngsters.

The Tournament at Skelmersdale attracts the best girls teams from England, Wales and Scotland and was played in very hot conditions making it tough for all the teams, particularly on the large pitches that had been set up for the Tournament.

Our Under 10s started the Tournament slowly with two 0 – 0 draws against Sandbach and Hesketh Colts but then started to get into gear with a 2 – 1 win over Walshaw and a 2 – 0 win over Chester. This was enough to put the u10s into the semi final behind Hesketh Colts on goal difference .In the semi final we played group A winners Stockport County who had won 4 and drew one game in their Group – in a confident display the PNE Girls won 1 – 0 with Sarah – Louise Bolton scoring a belter to win the game. In the final it was Hesketh Colts again who had beaten South Manchester league winners Manchester City in the other semi final.

The final was a great game, with end to end football and good chances for both teams. Ellie Atherton in the PNE Goal pulled off a wonderful penalty save to keep Hesketh at bay and send the game into penalties to decide the tournament winners.

Fortunately, all of the PNE players held their nerve in the shoot out with 4 confident strikes to take the shoot out 4 – 2 to lift the silverware.

Peter Millington, stand in u10 Manager said ”I am delighted with the girls today, their performance just kept on getting better and better each game. Each player was disciplined about the role they needed to perform and the it was really encouraging to see such young players be so organised on the firld of play.”

The Preston North End squad for the tournament was Ellie Atherton, Katie Woodhead, Georgia Pratten, Charlotte Lewis, Lucy Moon, Jodie Pickering, Micheala Weyer, Dana Billington and Sarah-Louise Bolton