The points are shared at Maiden Castle, as Lucy Watson’s last-gasp screamer secures a point for Durham.
The first half was end to end, with little goal scoring opportunities.While Durham played some great football in pockets, they were limited to mere flashes at goal.
Heading into the second half, either side appeared with a new fire in their stomachs. Having been wary in the first half, Durham approached the visitors with more ferocity, as the chances started to roll in.
Having started the opening 45 on more of an attacking front, it was the hosts that found themselves ahead just ahead of the hour mark. Meeting Océane Hurté’s cross, Wilma Leidhammar arrived first to head the ball beyond Catriona Shepperd.
Durham nearly found their way back just moments later. Drifting a peach of a cross into the middle following a set piece, Beth Hepple’s delivery was fired agonisingly wide by skipper Sarah Wilson.
Following a range of substitutions and alterations, Durham slowly pushed the visitors further into their own half, applying more and more pressure to the final third. But following a plethora of set piece routines, to no avail, it seemed that Durham’s hopes of finding an equaliser would slowly burn out, as the clock ticked down.
Lucy Watson had other plans. Emerging from the bench in the 64th minute, she instantly injected a new threat to Durham’s game, and taking over Hepple’s set piece-taking duties, a moment of magic would emerge. Standing over the ball 25 yards from goal, in the 98th minute of the game, Maiden Castle fell silent, as the game’s final opportunity presented itself.
Striking the ball with real confidence and conviction, time seemed to stand still, as Watson’s long-range effort looped beyond everyone, before settling deep into the top corner of Adrianna Franch’s net. Needless to say, the following scenes and celebrations were immaculate.
A goal of the season contender.
Line up – Sheppard, Ayre, Briggs, Toland, Wilson, Hepple, Lambert, Ede, Speckmaier Foster, Jones