Durham Women’s under-21 side became the first side to take maximum points off Manchester United in the Professional Game Academy League after victory at New Ferens Park.

Poppy Pritchard’s hat-trick sealed the three points, with Durham’s committed defending seeing them over the line.

It was the visitors who started brightly and they took the lead with just four minutes on the clock – the United forward reacting quickest to turn home at the back post after Anna King had made a smart save.

The Durham stopper had to make another fine save from a free-kick moments later, and the significance of that was felt on 21 minutes when the Blues levelled.

Pritchard picked up on the ball on halfway and drove into the area before driving her shot into the far corner to restore parity.

That buoyed the hosts who took the lead ten minutes before the break, as Pritchard converted from the spot after being tripped in the box.

United almost equalised immediately as they struck the bar before a sublime block from Grace Mackie stopped the follow-up from being converted.

King then made another strong stop, tipping over a header before half-time – but the Red Devils would draw level shortly after the restart as they tapped home a low cross.

But the level status was short-lived as Pritchard completed her hat-trick just two minutes later as she latched onto a loose pass and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting into the near corner.

Courtney Pigford almost added a fourth – her long-range effort being tipped wide – but three proved enough for Durham as they saw out the game.

And to top-off a fine afternoon, the Wildcats finished the game with three Under-16 players on the field – as Freya Sinclair, Ellen Atkinson and Daisy Clarke were handed first U21 appearances.