Durham Women kicked-off their Continental Cup campaign with a penalty win over Sheffield United – after the two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Maiden Castle.
The hosts raced into a two goal as Rio Hardy and Beth Hepple netted within the first 17 minutes, before Georgia Walters reduced the deficit moments before half-time.
Walters then brought the Blades level in the second half, before Hepple’s second of the game – this time from the penalty spot – put Durham back ahead.
Bex Rayner’s audacious effort then sent the game to penalties, where Maria Farrguia netted to secure the bonus point after Naoisha McAloon saved from Charlotte Newsham.
McAloon was one of five players brought into Durham’s starting line-up as the Wildcats rang the changes.
But despite the different make-up of the starting line-up, there were no early teething problems – with the hosts striking first after just seven minutes.
A clever flick from Bridget Galloway allowed Hardy to burst into the box and her finish had enough on it to take it past Nina Wilson in the Sheffield goal.
The momentum continued to lie with Durham and a second would come ten minutes later, and owed much to the fine work of Farrugia.
Her mazy run ended in a foul 25 yards out from goal – and Hepple stepped-up to send an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner.
And the midfielder almost had a second minutes later as she drove into space before forcing Wilson into a spectacular save to tip her effort from distance over.
After Durham’s early dominance, Sheffield grew into the game and pulled one back before the break when Walters cut in from the right and fired into the bottom corner.
That lifeline, accompanied with a trio of attack-minded changes, saw the Blades fly out the traps at the start of the second half and take the game to their hosts.
Early pressure saw McAloon have to make some strong claims, while Walters send a dipping volley narrowly wide.
Durham still looked a threat though, and Galloway turned wide at the far post after some good work from Clarke on the right flank.
McAloon was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers, though, and made some stunning saves to keep the lead intact.
First she got down well to deny Grace Riglar from a corner, before she stood firm to keep out Courtney Sweetman-Kirk after she bore down on goal – with Grace Ayre then sliding in well to stop Rhema Lord-Mears converting the follow-up.
But the Wildcats’ resistance broke on 64 minutes when Walters ghosted in to head home her second of the afternoon to bring the scores level.
Durham didn’t crumble though, and parity lasted only seven minutes.
Ayre was felled in the box and referee Matthew Corlett pointed to the spot – with Hepple sweeping the resultant penalty into the top corner.
There was to be another twist before full-time, though, with Rayner picking up a loose ball and sending a stunning strike from 35 yards over McAloon and in to once again bring Sheffield level.
Both teams had chances to win it late on – McAloon standing tall to keep out Rayner before Sweetman-Kirk slotted the rebound wide, and Mollie Lambert sending an arrowing effort narrowly over from a corner.
But there were to be no further twists in the 90 minutes, and so the sides went to penalties in search of a bonus point.
The Wildcats’ history in penalty shootouts – which had seen them fail to win one since entering the elite of women’s football in 2014 – could have been a concern, but Durham well and truly exorcised those demons.
Four well-taken penalties from Hepple, Saoirse Noonan, Sarah Robson and Lambert put Durham in control – before McAloon got down to save from Newsham.
That allowed Farrugia to step-up and score the winner, sending her side into the international break with momentum.
Durham XI: McAloon, Robson, Hepple, Farrugia, Hardy (Noonan 79), Galloway (Ejupi 85), Salicki, Bradley, Christon, Ayre, Clarke (Lambert 64)
Durham subs not used: Saunders, Greenwood, Crosthwaite
Goals: Hardy 7, Hepple 17, 71