It ends all square at Maiden Castle as Durham’s former manager has to settle for a point
Following a flurry of chances in the opening ten minutes, it was the visitors that would open the scoring first through their number 10 Molly Pike. Playing a low cross into the box from the byline, Molly Pike found herself connecting with the ball before Michaela Foster, slotting the ball beneath the out-rushing Shepperd to take the lead.
This lead, however, would not last long. Following a short game of pinball in the box following a long throw, the ball would veer out into the path of Mollie Lambert, firing first hand between multiple bodies into the near post.
From here, either side experienced a real whirlwind of efforts, with Durham’s closest coming in the 24th minute, as Mariana Speckmaier’s audacious back heel was blocked heading goalwards.
On the stroke of half time, Durham felt that they had finally taken the lead, and Poppy Pritchard, her first goal since her return. Redirecting a ball across the face of goal, winger Hannah Blake placed the ball on the plate for the City loanee, who, believing she had scored against her former club, and scored on her return, wheeled off in celebration. The celebrations, unfortunately, were cut short. Noticing the Linesman’s raised flag on the flank, Pritchard’s arms fell by her sides in disappointment, as the score remained even.
The remaining 45 minutes saw Newcastle take hold of the reins. Peppering Durham’s goal with efforts from range, the Wildcats’ defence stood firm until the very end, with Shepperd putting in another excellent performance in to maintain the point.
Durham found themselves a last gasp opportunity in the 87th minute, with Molly Lambert one on one with the goalkeeper for a second, though an excellent last-ditch challenge from Newcastle’s Aoife Mannion foiled the prospect of three points. A good point nonetheless, against our noisy Tyneside neighbours.
Durham: Sheppard, Ayre, Briggs, Toland, Hepple, Lambert, Blake (McFarland 66′), Pritchard, Speckmaier (Robson 90+3), Foster
Unused subs: King, Watson, Grant, Ede, E Wilson, McFarland, Jones
Goals: Lambert (15′)
Attendance: 1,502