Durham Women were denied a deserved result against Nottingham Forest.
Bayley Hutchison’s opener on her first start for the club put the Blues ahead, but goals from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Georgia Brougham secured victory for the visitors – despite a much-improved Durham performance.
Willie Kirk made three changes from the side that lost at Leicester and one of the players introduced to the starting line-up almost made an immediate impact – Olivia Fergusson prodding over from close range after Hutchison teed her up inside the first two minutes.
But the hosts wouldn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough as Hutchison took down a long ball from Sarah Wilson before delightfully curling into the roof of the net.
The lead lasted only ten minutes, as Boye-Hlorkah’s strike from distance found its way into the top corner.
Durham continued to assert themselves on the game and were the dominant side in the first-half.
A Beth Hepple free-kick flashed across goal without a telling touch while Jade Pennock fired over from inside the box.
But having survived that pressure, Forest started the second half strongly and took the lead when Brougham reacted quickest to finish after a free-kick wasn’t fully cleared.
The hosts continued to press in search of a way back into the game and were denied a penalty when Pennock was bundled over in the box.
Forest substitute Chloe Mustaki then made a fine block to deny Fergusson – as the Reds saw out the win.
