The Ballarat Scrap Metals Lady Reds were handed a 3-1 loss by second-bottom side Preston Lions at Morshead Park.

Ballarat started the brighter of the two teams with some slick movement of the ball through the midfield and registered the first goals when Alyson Pym pounced on the goalkeeper after a nervous fumble.

Preston responded within two minutes when a through ball split an indecisive Ballarat defence, and both sides entered half-time at 1-1. 

It didn’t take Preston long to wrest ascendancy from the home side.

The visitors broke the deadlock through their right winger who delivered a cross into the centre, which was swiftly put past Lady Devils keeper Jasmina Zdelar.

Preston extended its lead minutes later with some neat play outside of the 18-yard box that led to a stunning strike.

The Lady Devils tried to will themselves back into the game, but gifted the opposition too many turnovers as the pressure mounted.

Tess Meaden and Tessa Curtain  came close to scoring in the dying stages, but were unable to find the back of the net.

Earlier in the day, Ballarat’s under-16 side recorded a 2-1 victor over Boroondara, also at Morshead Park.

Alyssa Britten scored both her side’s goals.