Durham Women kicked-off their Women’s League Cup campaign with victory at Blackburn Rovers.
Late goals from Kaila Novak and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle handed the Blues victory after Grace Riglar’s opener.
Adam Furness handed first starts to Anna King and Michaela Foster as the visitors shuffled their pack.
And Durham began brightly with Ryan-Doyle seeing a looping header held by Poppy Soper before Ella Wilson saw a low strike charged down after a flowing counter-attack.
But somewhat against the run of play, the hosts took the lead – Riglar nodding home from a corner.
From there, though, it was the visitors who had the better of the opportunities. Ryan-Doyle saw a prodded effort tipped away by the fingertips of Soper before both Ella Wilson and Dee Bradley saw long range strikes dip narrowly over.
Half-time brought a raft of changes for both sides and one of Blackburn’s introductions – Farah Crompton – almost doubled their lead shortly after the restart, but King stood tall to deny her.
But after that point it was Durham who dominated and created the lions share of the opportunities.
Ryan-Doyle fired wide after Hannah Blake’s low cross before Becky Salicki saw a header hacked off the line following a teasing corner.
Soper then got down to deny Blake at the near post before Lauren Briggs was twice thwarted as Durham kept applying the pressure.
A deserved leveller would come with just over ten minutes remaining as Novak cut in from the right and unleashed an unstoppable effort in off the underside of the bar.
And there was still time for a late winner – Ryan-Doyle keeping her cool to slot home after Briggs’ long pass.
The result leaves Durham top of Group B at the early stage.