Durham Women gained a valuable point on the road at Watford on the opening day of the Barclays Women’s Championship season.
The Blues began brightly at Wealdstone FC and took the lead after just two minutes through Mollie Lambert.
But they were pegged-back by Carly Johns’ lob before an entertaining second half played out – with both sides perhaps feeling that they could have claimed maximum points.
In the early exchanges though, it looked as if it would be Durham’s day with the visitors aggressively attacking from the off.
And that paid dividends almost immediately – Abby Holmes and Lauren Briggs combining to find Saoirse Noonan whose fine through ball set Lambert away, with the midfielder keeping her cool to loft the strike over Liv Clark.
Debutant Amy Andrews then came close to adding a second when she broke through on goal, only to be denied by Clark.
The Watford ‘keeper then denied Lambert with a fingertip stop as Durham continued to press forward.
And so it was somewhat against the run of play when the hosts equalised – Johns latching onto Haines’ long ball and dinking home a lob.
That buoyed the Hornets who finished the first half strongly, with Naoisha McAloon having to stand tall to deny Lucia Leon after a fine move.
The second half continued at a high intensity as both sides sought to find a crucial second goal.
Poppy Wilson sent a header narrowly wide for the hosts before Durham substitute Jess Clarke sent a fierce effort crashing off the woodwork.
Sarah Robson and Lambert both showed fine defensive nous to keep Watford’s lively attackers at bay and it almost paid dividends late on when Andrews rounded the goalkeeper only to see her shot from a tight angle strike the post.
And so the spoils were shared, as Durham turn their attentions to the visit of Lewes next week.
Tickets for that game are on sale HERE.
Durham XI: McAloon, Briggs, Wilson, Robson, Lambert, Andrews (Pritchard 90), Crosthwaite (Clarke 46), Salicki (Nicholson 83), Bradley, Noonan (Ryan-Doyle 63), Holmes
Durham sub not used: Saunders
Goal: Lambert (2)
Bookings: Holmes (54), Robson (86)
Attendance: 317
