Durham kicked off the 2024-25 Barclays Women’s Championship season with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Maiden Castle.
Mollie Lambert opened the scoring for Durham in the 11th minute before Eva Butler equalised for Sheffield United just before half-time.
But Carly Johns’ strike restored the lead for Durham on her debut and that proved enough for the hosts.
Ella Wilson was inches wide from giving Durham the lead after three minutes as Blades goalkeeper Sian Rogers found herself dispossessed, but her shot was the wrong side of the post.
But Durham found the breakthrough in the 11th minute courtesy of Mollie Lambert’s strike from outside the box that flew past Rogers into the bottom right corner.
The visitors levelled after a scramble on the touchline in the 40th minute, which eventually fell to Eva Butler who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
Durham came agonisingly close to restoring their lead early in the second half as Lambert beat the Blades’ offside trap and squared to Carly Johns who fired just wide in the 49th minute.
But debutant Johns turned sharply to open her Durham account six minutes later to put the hosts back in front.
She then came close to turning provider for Lily Crosthwaite on 78 minutes but a heroic goal-line clearance from Sheffield United denied the 21-year-old – but two goals were enough for the Blues.