Durham Women’s Under 16 Professional Game Academy team have clinched their spot in the PGA Plate Final after a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City.
In front of a strong crowd at the Racecourse Ground, the Blues took an early lead through Eva Mysleyko’s stunning 25-yard strike.
Birmingham equalised just before the half hour mark, but Ellen-Marie Atkinson’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time but Durham back in the driving seat.
And after a dominant second half, during which Daisy Clarke netted a third, it was the Wildcats who sealed their place in the final.
Lee Grace and Callum Croft’s side had to overcome a hard-fought quarter-final clash with London City Lionesses in the previous round, and this game started in equally cagey fashion with few clear-cut chances.
And so it was no surprise that it took a moment of magic to open the scoring – Mysleyko cutting in from the left flank before curling a perfectly-placed effort into the top corner from range.
Birmingham responded well and applied plenty of pressure, netting a leveller after a well-weighted through ball was cooly finished by their forward inside the area.
But Durham’s reaction was a good one, and Atkinson restored their lead with an audacious free-kick that flew into the top corner from the left flank.
The second half saw the hosts control the game, limiting Birmingham’s opportunities while creating plenty of their own.
And a much-needed third would come midway through the half – Clarke chesting the ball down and rifling home from inside the box after a corner wasn’t fully cleared.
There were chances for a fourth, but three goals was enough to secure Durham’s spot in the final against Brighton & Hove Albion. The tie is scheduled for Sunday, April 28 (11am kick-off) at Loughborough University.
Photos: Dougal Southward
