Durham Women claimed a well-deserved first three points of the season with victory over Lewes.
Late goals from Amy Andrews and Poppy Pritchard sealed victory for the Blues in front of a bumper crowd of over 900 at Maiden Castle.
Durham started brightly and could have taken the lead with less than a minute on the clock – Sophie Whitehouse doing well to claim Mollie Lambert’s low cross before Amy Andrews could prod home.
But after that lively start the game settled into a more subdued pattern, with clear-cut chances few and far between.
Abby Holmes saw a powerful shot from the edge of the box charged down before Dee Bradley sent a free-kick narrowly over.
It was little surprise that the game headed into the break goalless, but there was almost a breakthrough just five minutes after the restart.
Maria Farrugia – on her return to Durham – did well to find space in the area and was only denied by the fingertips of Naoisha McAloon.
Jess Clarke then sent a header wide from Lauren Briggs’ teasing free-kick before the midfielder herself tested Whitehouse with an effort from range.
But just as the game looked to be petering out, Durham struck.
After keeping the ball alive following a set piece, Sarah Wilson’s cross from the right flank was headed home by Andrews.
And within seconds it was almost two, Whitehouse getting down to deny Clarke at her near post.
Lambert then also drew a fine save from the visiting stopper, but she was powerless to stop substitute Pritchard making it two in injury time.
A well-weighted pass sent the teenager into the box and she kept her cool to fashion some space, fire home and seal a first win of the season for Durham.