Durham Women continued their pre-season preparations with victory over Liverpool Feds.
Lily Crosthwaite’s brace was added to by Ella Wilson, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle and Dee Bradley as the Blues impressed at Penrith AFC.
It was the FA Women’s National League side who had the first chance of the afternoon as Anna King had to stand tall to repel a shot from inside the area.
Durham’s first chance came via skipper Sarah Wilson as she glanced a header narrowly over the bar after Lauren Briggs’ corner.
But the Blues wouldn’t have to wait long to find the breakthrough, with Briggs again the architect. Her cross-field pass picked out
Crosthwaite who took the ball in her stride before firing home from inside the area.
Ella Wilson then netted a second – and her first for Durham – moments later, as she fired home a stunning strike after finding some space 25 yards from goal.
Hannah Blake then saw a goal chalked-out for offside before Liverpool Feds pulled a goal back via a well-taken strike from the edge of the box.
Crosthwaite, though, would restore Durham’s two-goal lead after finishing a fine move that had seen Sarah Wilson and Mollie Lambert break at speed.
And the winger almost had her hat-trick moments later after striking the post from a tight angle, with Eleanor Ryan-Doyle’s follow-up attempt bravely blocked.
The Irish forward, Mollie Lambert and Ella Wilson were all thwarted by the Feds stopper in the dying stages of the first half, as the Blues went in ahead.
Feds started the second half strongly and only a fine goal-line clearance from Becky Salikci stopped then reducing the deficit.
But it was Durham who struck next as Ryan-Doyle applied the close range finish after closing down a clearance.
Dee Bradley added a fifth late on after being teed-up by Carly Johns – her strike finding the net via a deflection – before Feds scored their second of the afternoon directly from a corner.
The Blues now prepare for a behind closed doors clash with Manchester United on Wednesday, August 14.
Durham will next be in action in front of spectators on September 8 – when they welcome Sheffield United to Maiden Castle on the opening day of the Barclays Women’s Championship season.

Details

Date Time League Season Full Time
August 11, 2024 1:00 pm Friendly 2024_2025 90'

Ground

Frenchfield Park

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoalsOutcome
Liverpool Feds112Loss
Durham W325Win

Durham W

13Anna King Goalkeeper
2Grace Ayre Defender
3Lauren Briggs 24 Midfielder
4Olivia Bramley Midfielder
5Sarah Wilson 14 Defender
9Carly Johns 22 Forward
10Hannah Blake 7 Forward
7Beth Hepple 10 Midfielder
8Mollie Lambert Midfielder
12Lily Crosthwaite 21 Forward 6', 21'
14Becky Salicki 5 Defender
16Dee Bradley Midfielder 86'
19Ella Wilson Defender 9'
21Erin Nicholson 12 Midfielder
22Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 9 Forward 75'
24Abby Holmes 3 Defender
1Tatiana Saunders Goalkeeper