Durham Women exited the Vitality Women’s FA Cup with their heads held high after a narrow defeat at Everton.
The hosts edged the first 10 minutes, as they probed the Durham defence for an opener, but failed to really trouble Borthwick.
Everton’s pressure almost paid off on nine minutes, when the first big chance of the game fell to Emslie. Her whipped shot flew just wide of Borthwick’s left post.
The Toffees continued to impose themselves on Durham, and on 18 minutes Lehmann struck a dipping volley that landed on the roof of the Durham net.
Moments later, following Durham’s failure to clear a corner, Scott blazed her shot over the bar.
The Wildcats hit back, though, and almost took the lead themselves.
On 24 minutes, Johnson crossed the ball having broken down the left. Her delivery was partially cleared, and Everton’s defenders miraculously managed to smother Galloway’s follow up.
The game then settled into a competitive affair, with the hosts narrowly edging proceedings.
But within 30 seconds of the second half, Durham were ahead.
The Wildcats worked the ball well into the Everton box before Lambert laid it off to Sharpe, whose unstoppable strike flew into the top corner.
However, the lead didn’t last long. An Everton cross from the right was fell to Pattinson who drew the hosts level.
The Toffees then went in search of a winner and on 61 minutes they almost had it when Scott met a dangerous corner, but the ball struck the foot of the post.
Everton continued to apply pressure, as they had done in the first half.
On 72 minutes, the hosts had a fast break away, but the resulting strike from Boye-Hlorkah was gathered by the impressive Borthwick.
With just five minutes remaining, the hosts had yet another chance, but Finnigan’s effort was cleared off the line by Holmes.
As the game entered the final couple of minutes, there was plenty of heroic defending from Durham as the players blocked everything that Everton threw at them.
With the game seemingly destined for extra-time, Everton eventually made their pressure tell.
Within the first minute of added time, Scott broke down the right and fizzed a cross right across the face of the Durham goal. It was gratefully met by Sorensen, who broke Durham hearts.
However, Durham looked for an immediate response, and Robson’s shot following a free-kick prompted huge penalty shouts as it appeared to hit an Everton hand. The referee waved the appeals away.
This game seemed to find a new lease of life in added time, – highlighted when Boye-Hlorkah had the ball in the back of the net for the hosts again, but she was offside.
With just seconds to play, Durham had one final chance to draw level and force extra time. Sharpe met Hepple’s cross, but her header back across goal looped just wide of the post.
Report By Joe Nelson