Durham 2 United Women 2

The Reds were in search of a positive result after drawing their opening game against Aston Villa and also losing the shoot-out there.

Goals from Jade Moore and Vilde Boe Risa helped Marc Skinner's side take control against the Championship side.

After equalising once already in the first half, late pressure from the home side paid off, scoring in the last minute of stoppage time to send it to penalties for the extra point. 

United missed three out of four penalties and were on the losing end of the shootout. 

The first 45 was relatively even between both sides, with each of them taking the first few minutes to get a feel of the game. 

Marc Skinner's side created the first opportunity of the half, with the chance falling to Rachel Williams inside the opening 10 minutes. 

A direct team move saw the ball fall into the path of Vilde Boe Risa, whose clever back heel found Williams - but the latter's shot bounced wide. 

After piling on the pressure, however, United found the all-important breakthrough in the 22nd minute.

The home side couldn't quite clear the Reds' long throw into the box, with a headed clearance falling perfectly to Moore who hit it first time on the volley. Her unstoppable effort sailed into the back of the net to give us the lead. 

Despite all of the Reds' possession that followed, Durham struck level moments before the half-time whistle. 

Beth Hepple whipped a free-kick into the box and it fell to Jess Clarke at the back post who made no mistake when equalising for her side. 

Much like the first half, the second 45 was balanced at the start as both sides went in search of a goal that would see them take the lead. 

A handful of chances from either team resulted in the goalkeepers making assured saves to keep the score at 1-1.

But it would be United who went in front again just after the hour mark. 

Our second goal of the game came out almost of nowhere, with Boe Risa showing great instincts to put the Reds ahead. A long pass forward bounced just right for her to react quickly and loop the ball over Naoisha McAloon and into the net.

In front of their home fans, Durham continued to formulate attacks on United's goal with the hope of coming from behind once again. 

Their patience paid off, scrambling the ball home through Sarah Robson with virtually the last kick of the game to level the score and send the game to penalties. 

The shootout wasn't meant to be for the Reds, who missed three out of four penalties to Durham's three successful ones - the home side securing the extra point on the night. 

 

MATCH DETAILS

Durham: McAloon; Christon, Robson, Salicki (Ayre 83), Robert; Bradley; Farrugia (Hardy 72), Hepple; Clarke (Croswaithe 72), Lambert (Noonan 79), Galloway. 

Unused sub: Borthwick. 

Goals: Clarke 45; Robson 90. 

Booked: Bradley 63. 

United: Baggaley; Le Tissier, Tounkara, Turner, Thorisdottir; Ladd, Moore (Zelem 62); Thomas, Boe Risa, Leon; Williams (Parris 72). 

Unused subs: Middleton-Patel, Toone, Galton, Garcia, Staniforth, Simpson.

Goals: Moore 22; Boe Risa 66. 

Booked: Le Tissier 88. 

Durham won 3-1 on penalties.