Anna King’s penalty shootout saves gave Durham the bonus point win over Sheffield United in the penultimate fixture of the Women’s League Cup at Maiden Castle.
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle’s second-half equaliser took the game to penalties where the Blues prevailed.
Becky Salicki scored the decisive penalty after a brace of saves from King.
The fixture started off slow in comparison to the last time the two sides faced off in September.
Durham only produced two shots in the first half – the first coming from a Michaela Foster free-kick which was held by Bethan Davies in the Blades goal.
The second half burst into life quick as Sheffield United opened the scoring ten minutes in through Monique Robinson’s calm finish.
United’s lead lasted only five minutes as Beth Hepple’s free-kick was spilled by Davies allowing Ryan-Doyle to throw herself at the ball and bag an equaliser on the hour mark.
Ryan-Doyle came close to a second in the 72nd minute but was denied by a full-stretched Davies.
Neither side could find a winner in normal time as the game went to penalties.
Eva Butler was first to miss as the Blades forward was denied by King.
Carly Johns was denied by Davies before King restored Durham’s advantage by saving Robinson’s spot-kick.
Becky Salicki stepped up and smashed the ball past Davies to give Durham the two points.
The result means the fate of the group remains in Durham’s hands going into a River Wear derby at Eppleton against Sunderland.