Durham surrendered a first half lead as they went down 3-2 against Milwall Lionesses in the WSL2.
Amelia Pereira’s cool finish gave the Wildcats a first half lead before Rineola Babajide equalised after the break.
Substitute Lily Agg then turned the game with two goals and although Beth Hepple replied, the visitors held on for a first League victory of the season.
Lee Sanders recalled Jemma Purfield following an injury to Lauren Jordinson in the warm-up, while Emily Scott also returned to the starting XI.
It was Scott who twice went closest to opening the scoring inside the opening 30 minutes. She crashed a shot from distance against the crossbar after good work from Becku Beech and then had a half-volley on the turn cleared off the line.
Though the Wildcats had the clearer chances, Millwall had one of their own as Cherelle Albert failed to connect with a pinpoint cross from the left.
Durham took the lead after 37 minutes when Becky Beech dispossessed Naomi Cole, slid in Pereira and the Portuguese midfielder made no mistake to slot into the bottom corner.
Millwall came out buoyed in the second half and equalised when Babajide cut out Vic Linsley’s backpass and slotted high past Helen Alderson.
Despite the setback, Durham continued to press forward and Purfield’s magnificent through ball just evaded Beech in the centre.
But the visitors were to go in front when a loose ball from a corner found substitute Agg, who was left with the simple task of passing into an empty net.
Then with just under 20 minutes remaining, Agg’s second after 72 minutes took the wind out of Durham’s sails as a defensive mix-up allowed her to nip in and deftly lob over the home keeper.
Hepple’s magnificent free kick from the edge of the area halved the deficit but despite late pressure, Durham couldn’t find the equaliser.