Durham Women signed-off 2020 with a superb victory over Liverpool.
Fine strikes either side of the break from Molly Sharpe and Emily Roberts handed the Wildcats a victory they so richly-deserved.
Lee Sanders made just one change from the side that won at Coventry last week, as Nicki Gears returned to the starting line-up.
And as perhaps was to be expected from a clash of two of the division’s promotion hopefuls, the opening to the game was cagey.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between – although Sarah Robson did send a header narrowly wide from a corner before Megan Borthwick did well to tip Amelie Thestrup’s shot from an angle wide.
Half-chances continued to come and go as Sharpe saw a hooked shot easily held by Laws, while Borthwick again denied Thestrup at the other end after forcing the striker wide.
It would take a moment of quality to opening the scoring and that came via Sharpe.
After a lightning quick Durham break involving Gears and Roberts, Sharpe sent home a stunning half-volley from the edge of the area to hand the Wildcats the lead on the stroke of half-time.
That somewhat turned the tide of the game, and Rachael Laws did well to get fingertips on a Beth Hepple free-kick to ensure the Reds would only trail by one at the break.
But Durham had to do some defending after the interval as Liverpool sought a way back into the game.
Risola Babajide sent an effort wide from range before turning provider for Mel Lawley, who was denied by a stunning Borthwick save when one-on-one.
From the following corner, Rhiannon Roberts and Niamh Fahey looked set to scramble the ball over the line – only for some heroic Durham defending to keep them at bay.
And having weathered the storm, the Wildcats could make it two.
Mollie Lambert was the provider as she picked out Roberts on the left, and the winger did the rest – taking on five Liverpool players before curling a superb strike into the top corner.
The visitors pushed forward in the late stages of the game but struggled to seriously test Borthwick, who did well to make some routine saves as the game ticked into injury time.
But in truth, she was largely untroubled in the dying minutes as Durham saw out a fine win on home soil.

Recap

STARTING ELEVEN
Durham W vs Liverpool W

GOAL

Details

Date Time League Season Full Time
December 20, 2020 12:00 pm Women's Championship 2020_2021 0'

Ground

Maiden Castle, Durham
City of Durham, County Durham, North East England, England, DH1 3SE, United Kingdom

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoalsOutcome
Durham W112Win
Liverpool W000Loss

Durham W

2Kathryn Hill Defender
3Lauren Briggs Midfielder
4Mollie Lambert 18 Midfielder
5Sarah Wilson Defender
6Sarah Robson Midfielder
7Beth Hepple Midfielder
11Bridget Galloway 8 Forward
13Megan Borthwick Goalkeeper
14Becky Salicki 17 Defender
16Ellie Christon Defender
17Emily Roberts 14 Forward
18Danielle Brown 4 Forward
1Hannah Reid Goalkeeper
8Molly Sharpe 11 Forward
9Nicki Gears 96 Forward
96Rachel Lee 9 Midfielder