Durham fade to a narrow 2-1 defeat on the road in Bristol, as the hosts take all three points on the day, despite Durham’s unwavering pressure in the dying moments of the game.
Relying heavily on counter attacking football to break the sturdy City back line, it was Durham that found themselves notching the game’s first shot on target. Racing onto a loose first touch at the back, youngster Poppy Pritchard fired first time at goal, though the effort was too close to Bristol ‘keeper Fran Bentley, who batted it away.
From here, Bristol City took a real foothold in the game. Dominating the ball, and creating more with it, City’s rising pressure on the attack would soon break through for the opener. Unable to clear their lines properly following a set piece routine, Durham’s series of failed clearances fell unfortunately into the path of Wales international Sophie Ingle, who wasted no time in striking the ball home beyond the reach of Cat Sheppard.
From here, a series of efforts from the hosts came close to doubling the lead, thoigh Cat Sheppard, having an excellent game, was equal them, keeping the Durham faithfuls’ hopes alive.
Unfortunately, the inititiation of the second half came paired with a sour start for the travelling club. Given enough room to advance the attack, Bristol City Emily Syme raced down the touchline, before crossing a well-placed ball into the middle, for an unmarked Vicky Losada to nod home, doubling the hosts’ lead.
This second goal, however, would not break Durham’s spirits. Sparking an unwavering hunger for the comeback Durham suddenly clicked into life, peppering the opponents with chance after chance, waiting for the net to finally ripple.
And on the stroke of the hour mark, ripple it did. Combining down the left side with a series of one-twos, Hannah Blake found Durham’s number 8 Mollie Lambert, taking a single touch before firing a venomous strike at goal from the edge of the box, crashing in off the underside of the bar to rekindle hopes of the comeback.
In the dying moments of the game, it seemed that Durham were increasingly likely to equalise. With a dangerous corner into the box causing problems, Durham were awarded several chances to net their second, though a series of goal line clearances, and scuffed efforts saw the equaliser narrowly elude them upon the full time whistle.
A disappointing result on the road, but a battling performance to be proud of from the girls, who came so close to settling that early 2-0 deficit.
A special congratulations of note to our skipper, Sarah Wilson, who made her 250th appearance for Durham this afternoon, a staggering stat to be very proud of.