Durham Women suffered late heartbreak at Burnley in the Subway Players Cup.
The Blues found themselves two goals behind at the break but fought back in the second half – drawing level through Sarah Wilson’s header and Angela Addison’s strike.
But the Clarets would retake the lead in the final seconds through Alethea Paul to seal three points in the League Phase.
There were few clear-cut chances in the early exchanges as the two sides played out a cagey opening – Bayley Hutchison seeing a shot on the spin deflect wide in the first real effort of note.
But the hosts grew into the encounter and came close to taking the lead when Jamie Finn’s shot was parried by Anna King before Paul saw her follow-up deflect onto the bar.
Both sides then saw goals ruled-out for offside before the Clarets took the lead – Finn wasn’t to be denied again as she lapsed onto a loose pass and finished well past King.
And eight minutes’ latter, the lead was doubled – Emma Siddall rounding King before slotting home.
Durham rallied after half-time and started to create some real chances of their own.
Kirstie Levell was twice called into action and made spectacular saves to deny Wilson and Jade Pennock from set pieces.
The pressure eventually told though – Beth Hepple seeing an an effort strike the bar with Wilson reacting quickest to nod home.
And then Durham found themselves level. Wilson turned provider and her fine cross was volleyed home by Addison on her first appearance for the club.
There were half-openings for both teams in the dying stages before the hammer-blow – Paul slotting home on the break to wrap-up the win for Burnley.
