Durham were made to settle for a point despite dominating large spells of the game at Blackburn Rovers.
Danielle Maxwell gave Rovers the lead on the stroke of half-time with a fine strike from distance, before Beth Hepple levelled with an equally stunning effort.
An own goal from Hannah Silcock then put Durham in the driving seat, only for Lucy Shepherd to restore parity once more.
Claire Ditchburn named an unchanged side from that which drew 2-2 at London City Lionesses.
On the bench, meanwhile, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle returned after a niggle ruled her out of the trip to Dartford.
In tricky conditions, the early stages of the game were a stop-start affair after a number of collisions required treatment from both physios.
That meant chances were few and far between, although Blackburn did successfully defend a trio of Durham corners in the opening 20 minutes.
At the other end, Naoisha McAloon had to stay alert to hold Shepherd’s looping header from inside the area.
But it was the visitors who still looked the most likely and Saoirse Noonan came within inches of opening the scoring after she sent an acrobatic volley agonisingly wide of the far post after a well-worked corner routine.
The Irish striker was then thwarted by Alex Brooks at her near post after breaking into the area, while Lily Crosthwaite saw a cross almost drop in as Durham finished the half the stronger of the two sides.
Noonan would have the ball in the back of the net before the break, only to be thwarted by the offside flag after firing home on the turn.
But against the run of play, Blackburn took the lead on the stroke of half-time – Maxwell firing home from 20 yards after a rare foray forward.
She came close to adding a second after the interval too, cutting inside before seeing another powerful strike clip the crossbar.
Durham then started to flex their attacking muscles more and Mollie Lambert’s drilled cross was almost turned home by Amy Andrews after a positive spell of pressure.
Naoisha McAloon then made a fine stop to deny Shepherd after she was threaded in by Maxwell, as the second half began in a far more open fashion than the first.
And the significance of that save would be felt on 57 minutes when the visitors netted a deserved leveller.
Noonan did well to bring down a long ball and tee-up Hepple, who curled into the top corner from 20 yards.
And three minutes later, Durham were ahead – Silcock turning past her own ‘keeper after Crosthwaite’s fine delivery into a dangerous area.
Sarah Wilson came close to adding a third when she glanced narrowly wide from a corner, before the hosts levelled – Shepherd tapping home from close range after a counter-attack.
An end-to-end game followed as both sides sought a winner, with chances at either end in the latter stages.
The biggest of those fell to Blackburn’s Megan Hornby, who was denied by Naoisa McAloon at point blank range before sending the rebound wide.
But there would be no late drama as the spoils were shared.

Video

Details

Date Time League Season Full Time
March 3, 2024 2:00 pm BWC 2023_24 90'

Ground

Sir Tom Finney Stadium
Brownedge Road, Brownedge, Bamber Bridge, South Ribble, Lancashire, North West England, England, PR5 6UX, United Kingdom

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoalsOutcome
Blackburn W112Draw
Durham W022Draw

Durham W

1Naoisha McAloon Goalkeeper
3Lauren Briggs Midfielder 63'
4Olivia Bramley Defender
5Sarah Wilson Defender
6Sarah Robson Midfielder
7Beth Hepple Midfielder 57'
8Mollie Lambert Midfielder
9Amy Andrews Forward
12Lily Crosthwaite Forward
14Becky Salicki Defender
15Dee Bradley Defender
18Grace Ayre Defender
19Ella Wilson Defender
20Saoirse Noonan 22 Forward
21Erin Nicholson Midfielder
22Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 20 Forward
30Tatiana Saunders Goalkeeper