A valiant second half fightback wasn’t enough for Durham Women as they fell to defeat at Wolves.
After heading into the break 3-0 down, the Blues put in a stunning display after the interval – but goals from Sarah Wilson and Bayley Hutchison weren’t enough to take a share of the spoils.
Willie Kirk rang the changes from the midweek Subway Players Cup clash against Everton and Durham started brightly.
They could have had a penalty just two minutes in as Rachel Lowe was bundled to the floor inside the area – but no foul was given.
Grace Ede then curled over from the edge of the box with the first real chance of the game – before Wolves struck, Amber Hughes tapping home from close range.
Charlotte Greengrass would double the lead moments later as she bundled home after a cut-back, before Hughes added a third with a back post header.
Durham quickly rallied and Jade Pennock twice came close – first being denied by Emily Orman at the near post before then sliding narrowly wide from a teasing Lowe cross.
Lucy Watson almost reduced the deficit before the break as Orman saved her well-struck free-kick, and the Blues kept-up the pressure following the restart.
Pennock curled wide after finding herself one-on-one before Beth Hepple was superbly thwarted by the fingertips of Orman.
But there would be a deserved goal moments later as a short corner routine allowed Watson to square for Wilson who tapped home on the line.
That gave Durham even more impetus. Hepple headed wide before Orman again did well to deny Olivia Fergusson.
And so it was against the run of play when Wolves added a fourth – Louanne Worsey converting at the near post after a quick counter-attack.
The visitors continued to push and netted a second when Hutchison – on her first appearance after returning from injury – finished coolly inside the area.
But there was no time for any late heroics despite Durham’s second half dominance.
