Durham Women FC picked up another three points courtesy of a battling victory away at Millwall.
Beth Hepple’s first half free-kick proved enough for the visitors who defended valiantly in the final minutes to wrap up the win.
Lee Sanders made two changes from the side that beat Oxford United a fortnight ago, with Megan Borthwick making her first start between the sticks while Chloe Macek earned a recall.
And the visitors enjoyed a positive start as they earned a string of corners – Sarah Wilson heading narrowly over from one of them.
Sarah McFadden then tried her luck with a header from Jordan Atkinson’s chipped cross, only to see her glancing effort flash wide of the far post.
Atkinson then had an opportunity of her own moments later as she seized on some hesitant defending in the area to win possession before drilling inches wide of the far post.
The hosts grew into the game though, and had a golden chance to take the lead when Ashlee Hincks found some space in the area with the striker then unable to hit the target.
But any chance of Millwall striking the opening blow was ruled out on 27 minutes as Hepple won a free-kick on the edge of the box before dusting herself off and firing home.
It come have been two only minutes later as Millwall struggled to clear a cross from Atkinson with Nat Gutteridge seeing her powerful effort go narrowly over.
Chances continued to flow for the Wildcats with Gutteridge again threatening with a low curling effort which Millwall stopper Sarah Quantrill did well to hold.
The Wildcats found now way through for a second goal in the first half and were almost made to pay shortly after the restart.
After Hincks and Lucy Loomes combined the latter found herself with time and space and slid her shot under Borthwick but wide of the far post.
Hincks was involved again shortly after as she teed up Amber Gaylor with the winger firing high and wide from the edge of the box.
Millwall were piling on the pressure and only a fine tackle from Becky Salicki stopped the hosts from equalising – the centre back tracking back to dispossess Loomes as she prepared to shoot.
Durham were still creating chances though, and McFadden fired wide from a tight angle after she’d won possession in the area.
The Northern Irish international then almost doubled the lead from Hepple’s corner as she saw her header crack against the crossbar with nobody able to force the loose ball home.
In an attempt to get back into the game Millwall introduced Rinsola Babajide and the England U20 international almost had an immediate impact with Borthwick having to tip wide her curling effort.
Lee Burch’s side pushed forward in the dying minutes but struggled to create any meaningful chances with a string of corners well defended by the visitors.
After surviving some late pressure, the Wildcats held on to claim a vital three points.