Durham Women put in a dominant performance against Coventry United – but were forced to settle for a point.
The Wildcats controlled the game throughout, seeing a goal controversially disallowed and two penalty claims turned down.
Yet despite their superiority, Durham had to share the spoils with their resilient visitors.
It was the hosts who began brightly and had the first real chance of the game when Lauren Briggs turned Kathryn Hill’s cross into a dangerous area, with Rio Hardy then heading narrowly over.
Beth Hepple then sent an effort narrowly wide before Sarah Wilson forced visiting stopper Lucy Thomas into the first of a string of fine saves, as she turned the defender’s spectacular long-range effort over the bar.
Durham then thought they had taken the lead when Hardy pounced to slot home after Thomas collided with Mollie Lambert, only for the officials to spot something they didn’t like and chalk the goal off.
Hepple then again came close with an effort which swept just the wrong side of the post before she was then denied by Thomas after a late goalmouth scramble.
Coventry offered little in the first half but had a glimmer of hope when Olivia Fergusson broke through after the break, but Naoisha McAloon watched her effort drift wide.
McAloon was scarcely involved in the second period as Durham piled relentless pressure on the visiting backline.
Liz Ejupi saw her close-range effort parried by Thomas before Kathryn Hill’s effort went wide of the near post.
Hill then saw a strike deflect off a Coventry hand, only for nothing to be given, before Thomas pulled off yet another stunning save to stop Nat Johnson turning into her own net.
Durham again had big penalty appeals turned down when Bridget Galloway was wiped out after turning her market in the box, with the striker readying to shoot.
Hardy later saw a looping shot deflect off the post as Durham camped themselves in Coventry’s half – but there was to be no late winner despite the Wildcats’ dominance.