Derby Day at Kingston Park saw Durham come with a game plan that they stuck to and, thanks to an inspired performance from goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders got spot-on to come away with a huge three points in the battle for the Barclays Championship title.
The Lady Mags went into this game unbeaten in three games so far this season and looking for another home win that would have really put them in the mix at the top of the table. They were under no illusions though facing a Durham outfit sitting in second place after three wins from their first four games.
Durham being a really long-term established Championship side that have been in the Division for the past 11 seasons. Whilst United are having their first ever venture at this level following back-to-back promotions. Perhaps in the end that extra know-how of the League made a difference.
But that extra bit of pressure from being a NUFC side with substantial backing from the owners perhaps puts a target on United’s backs. Certainly, given that Durham were above Newcastle in the table and with their experience it was surprising to find that many still made United favourites.
From the first whistle though it was United on the front foot forcing the visitor’s back and looking really hungry. The first clear cut chance coming from an Amber-Keegan Stobbs corner that Deanna Cooper got a cute, flicked header on at the at the front post only to see Hannah Blake clear it off the line.
It lead to another United corner delivered by Demi Stokes that caused issues for Durham once again> The ball only being half cleared falling to Rachel Furness on the edge of the area who volleyed the chance wide.
Then a ball over the top saw Stobbs in a foot race as Saunders came off her line. The United skipper getting to the ball first couldn’t quite direct her effort on target as she stretched and lifted it over the onrushing ‘keeper.
Lois Joel then played a neat ball down the right playing in Amy Andrews. United’s forward managed to pull the ball back for Elysia Boddy to run on too but she could only fire her effort straight at Saunders who held it comfortably.
Andrews then made a great run from the inside left channel nutmegged a defender as she advance into the box and saw her shot blocked by Saunders. The loose ball breaking to Shania Hayles who looked a certain scorer until Saunders recovered superbly to make the save one-on-one.
All that action coming inside the first fifteen minutes with United rampant and Durham doing well to contain them at this stage. Slowly though after Wor Lasses opening bombardment the visitors’ started getting a foothold into the game
They finally created their first chance on 26 minutes when Becky Salicki headed Beth Hepple’s corner back across goal to find Carly Johns at the back post. Durham’s #9 sliding on to the ball but could only push it wide of the target.
United were awarded a free kick midway inside the Durham half on the half-hour mark. Furness jumping well above her marker to loop a header goalwards only to see Saunders make an excellent acrobatic save to claw the ball out from under her own cross bar with Durham clearing the danger.
It was then the turn of United’s stopper Claudia Moan to show exactly why she was The Championship Player of the Year last campaign. A ball from Hepple finding Kaila Novak at the back post in acres of space.
Novak controlled and then hammered the ball goalwards at close range, but the Newcastle ‘keeper flew off her line to make a world-class save to block and deny Durham the opening goal.
United as the game entered injury time pushed forward again, Stobbs trying her luck from outside the box with a chipped effort that looked destined to find the net but there was Saunders again to make a great twisting save to turn the ball onto the bar and over for a corner.
Stokes’ delivery dropping to Stobbs again who hit it full on the volley from 10-yards out bringing a fantastic reflex stop from Saunders who somehow tipped the ball over the bar once again denying United in superb style.
The final moment and last chance of a half dominated by The Lady mags saw nice play on the left by Andrews whose cross evaded Saunders and found Stokes at the back post but from a tight angle the ex-England Lioness couldn’t find a way past the covering defenders on the goal line.
Newcastle had piled the pressure on early and late in the half with Durham doing well to stand firm and also owe a great debt of gratitude to Saunders in their goal.
The second half turned out to be nowhere near as dramatic or dominant for United who were still pressing but Durham looked better and more settled having somehow not conceded in the first 45 minutes.
It was a full fifteen minutes before Stobbs’ low cross found Hayles inside the area but as she turned looking to get her shot away Durham skipper Sarah Wilson made a potential goal saving block.
The visitors were growing in confidence and just after the hour mark Mollie Lambert stole a loose ball deep in the United back line and drove forward. Stokes though forcing her wide and when her low strike came in Moan held it comfortably.
Then Lambert again pinched possession in a dangerous area sending the ball wide right to Lily Crosthwaite who found Novak on and around the penalty spot only to see Novak shoot just over the bar.
Stobbs then picked out the run of Andrews on the left. She cut inside and clipped her effort on target but it lacked the power or direction to trouble Saunders who saved it comfortably.
Lambert was now causing problems for United’s defenders working across the line and pinching the ball on occasion and when Newcastle failed to clear their lines lambert presented Johns with a chance which she fired over from the edge of the area.
A good play down the left by Stokes found United substitute Beth Lumsden who showed a lovely bit of skill to cut in from her wide position creating a shooting chance but the angle was tight and Saunders got down at her near post to make a neat save.
The with a minute left to play disaster struck for United as Cooper lost possession to Johns who streaked away from the United defence with only Moan to beat. The United keeper was up to the challenge brilliantly parrying Jones’ well struck shot.
The ball however bounced free and Lambert was on hand for Durham to squeeze it home at the back post from a tight angle to stun the vast majority of the 3,586 crowd. Lambert spinning away and celebrating wildly with her teammates in front of the packed United fans.
There was six minutes of additional time added but Durham buoyed by the late, late strike completed the perfect smash and grab moment that gave them a precious three-point haul and took them to within a point of Charlton Athletic at the top of the table.
For United there was a sense of real true frustration. Never had the adages ‘goals win matches’ or ‘if you don’t take your chances you’ll get punished’ run truer. There was no doubt that United over the 90 minutes were the better and more enterprising side but Durham’s dogged determination in the end won the day.
You could tell by the way the whole Durham squad celebrated with their band of loyal supporters how much this win meant to them and they stayed on the pitch soaking up the moment for quite some time. For United it was a harsh reality check of how tough The Championship is.
Next up for Wor Lasses? Only a little trip to The Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland next Sunday in what has now become a crucial and massive game for both sides, if it wasn’t already!
