Durham Women were narrowly beaten by in-form Birmingham City in their final home game of the campaign.
First half goals from Lucy Quinn and Charlie Devlin were enough for the visitors, despite Sarah Wilson reducing the deficit shortly after the interval.
The Wildcats were dominant throughout the second period but just couldn’t find that elusive leveller.
Having won when the two sides met in midweek, Birmingham started brightly and took the lead after just three minutes – Quinn’s corner sneaking in at the far post after missing a crowd of bodies.
Dee Bradley came close to a leveller when she sent a header narrowly wide, before Naoisha McAloon was called into action to deny Claudia Walker after a swift break from the Midlanders.
The visitors continued to threat and Jade Pennock almost doubled their advantage when her hooked shot came back off the upright.
But Durham were still posing a threat and Saoirse Noonan was only denied by a fine Lucy Thomas stop after Beth Hepple slid a free-kick into her path.
Sarah Robson then sent two efforts wide of the woodwork and Thomas again denied Noonan as the hosts looked to finish the half strongly.
Yet it would be Birmingham who struck next, Devlin cooly finishing from 18 yards to put them two to the good at the break.
That lead would be cut just five minutes into the second half though.
Hepple’s free-kick from a tight angle was too hot to handle and Wilson was on hand to smash home from close range.
From there on out it was one-way traffic as Durham committed bodies forward – Bradley again coming close with a header and Jess Clarke firing wide on the turn.
The Wildcats pushed and probed as the game headed into its final moments, but resolute Birmingham defending saw them see out victory.