Durham exit the Women’s League Cup, narrowly losing out to Sunderland in an unfortunate penalty shootout.
In a fixture that went all the way to the very last, the match showcased two very different playing approaches, with the hosts looking to hit Durham on the counter on most occasions.
From this, it was the hosts that had the first real chance of an opener early on in the afternoon. Latching onto Barry’s cross into the centre, attacker Kitch’s header should have caused more threat to Durham’s deadlock, though the effort cleared the crossbar.
From here, it was Durham who came up with the responses. Sarah Robson believed she’d marked her 200th appearance for Durham with a goal in the 13th minute, though her left-footed effort in the penalty area merely forced Lambourne into a strong save.
With an impressive ball in behind from Beth Hepple in the 37th minute, it seemed almost guaranteed that Durham would take the lead, though Foster’s close-ranged volley narrowly missed the target.
Sunderland were quick to come off the mark in the second half, stealing an unlikely lead early on. Kitch, stealing onto a loose ball in the middle, threaded it between the Durham defenders into the path of of Emily Scarr, who wasted no time in drilling beyond an outstretched Anna King.
Following a triple change in the following moments, with Poppy Pritchard, Tyler Toland and Lauren Briggs entering the field, it seemed only one side would be the next to score, and score they would.
An ambitious effort from an acute angle, Beth Hepple’s audacious free kick from close to the corner flag soared beyond the reach of Lambourne, who could only claw at the air, as the ball struck the far post and went in.
Heading straight into penalties following the full time whistle, fortune would not fall in Durham’s favour, as Mariana Speckmaier’s effort went wide, and Lauren Brigg’s deciding penalty was saved, handing Sunderland the consolation point to round off either side’s competition.