Durham Women fell to a second defeat of the campaign at the hands of London City Lionesses.
Goals from Sarah Ewens, Amy Rodgers and Lucy Fitzgerald secured the victory for the hosts – while Durham ended the game with ten players after Georgia Robert saw red in the second half.
Durham made just one change from the side that beat Blackburn Rovers as Mollie Lambert replaced Maria Farrugia – and the visitors began brightly with Lily Crosthwaite forcing Shae Yanez into an early save.
Ewens then almost opened the scoring when she seized on a loose ball, but couldn’t find the target from an acute angle.
Rio Hardy then forced Yanez into two further stops as she had some joy down the right flank – but it was to be London City who opened the scoring, with Ewens finding some space before firing home from 20 yards.
Durham rallied and enjoyed a strong spell of pressure after the opener, with Beth Hepple sending two teasing set-pieces into the area that were begging for a touch.
But against the run of play, those hosts doubled their advantage – Rodgers reacting quickest to slot home after some penalty area pinball just before the interval.
The visitors weren’t deterred though and started the second half with a renewed vigour, but struggled to test Yanez.
And their task was to be made much harder when Fitzgerald swept home from the edge of the box to make it three following a counter-attack.
London City continued to apply pressure and came close to adding only a fourth only to be denied by a superb goalline block from Robert. The referee, however, adjudged that the ball had touched Robert’s hand and awarded a penalty and a straight red card.
Tatiana Saunders was equal to Ewens’ spot-kick though, getting down to her right to push it wide.
From there on out it was the hosts pushing forward, but they failed to add to their lead in the final stages – as Durham dealt with the pressure well.
But the Wildcats were unable to muster a goal themselves, with Becky Salicki firing over in their only real chance late on as London City sealed the three points.