The Wildcats came off second best in a contest that will prove valuable in experience for the rest of the season
Durham were beaten 5-0 in the Continental Tyres Cup as FA WSL1 side Manchester City Women won their fifth game on the bounce.
The Wildcats took on a team including World Cup stars Karen Bardsley, Toni Duggan and skipper Steph Houghton and found themselves four nil down at half-time, with goals coming from Isobel Christiansen and Krystle Johnson and a brace from Nikita Parris.
Lee Sanders’ team were more than a match for them in the second half and can find themselves desperately unlucky to concede a fifth, a second for Johnson, with minutes to spare whilst trying themselves to reduce the deficit.
Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was in a reflective mood following the defeat, and believes the experience will put them in good stead for the rest of the season.
She said: “It was a challenge to play against a team that trains full time and that has internationals in the squad, I’m sure everyone in the team will learn from the experience of playing against players at that level and strive to be as good as them and give performances like the second half performance in every game.
“I enjoyed playing against a team of City’s quality.
“In the second half we showed that we can defend against one of the top teams in the country and conceded one goal.
“This performance and the one against Sunderland will have boosted the teams confidence going into the remaining fixtures in the league and confidence to continue taking the game to the bigger clubs in the Continental Cup games that we have left to play.”
Moorhouse was delighted with how the team bedded in in the second half, and put it down to some resolute defending.
She added: “I thought the performance of the girls was good.
“In the first half I thought we struggled a bit against a full strength City attack, but after half time I thought the girls were tremendous.
“They gave their all in defence and some of the last ditch challenges from the defence were amazing.
“To go in 4-0 at half time and the score ending at 5-0 shows the determination of the girls in the second half.”