Durham Women put in a performance to be proud of as two late goals helped Manchester City to victory.
Goals from Fillipa Angeldahl, Caroline Weir and Janine Beckie saw the top tier side claim the three points in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup, but the scoreline perhaps didn’t reflect the Wildcats’ fine defensive display.
Durham shuffled their pack and handed starts to young trio Grace Ayre, Hannah Greenwood and Lily Crosthwaite – but the much-changed side weren’t over-awed in the early stages.
It as City who saw most of the ball early on but they only carved out one half-chance in the opening stages as Angeldahl swept wide.
The Swede would open the scoring on 16 minutes though as she fired home from the edge of the box.
Chances continued to be at a premium despite City’s territorial advantage – although Ellie Christon did have to clear off the line after Ellen White prodded goalward from a corner.
Durham were a threat on the break with Crosthwaite in particular looking lively, but they failed to really test the home stopper in the first half.
A similar pattern of play followed after the interval but Megan Borthwick again was relatively untroubled.
Ayre made one fine block to stop Beckie before Angeldahl blazed over a glorious opportuntiy.
Durham did well to keep their hosts at an arms’ length and were only undone late on as Gareth Taylor introduced Caroline Weir – who rifled into the roof of the net from 18 yards.
Beckie would make it three late on, but the Wildcats left with their heads held high.