Another week, another match report from yours truly.
This week we will be recapping the exciting highlights from Wednesday 1st November. This week saw the 3rd team and 1st team hosting at our home ground Maiden Castle, whilst the 2s travelled down to York.
Starting off strong - as always - we have our third team Captain Jess Fuller - followed by respective captains Charlotte Kingsbury and Emma Wallis - with another match day report for her side. Our third team hosted a strong York St John first team, displaying determination and grit in what would end up being a well-fought battle, and an impressive clean sheet. With this in mind, lets delve into how the game unfolded ...
Durham 3s vs York St John (H)
The match started with the teams battling it out in the midfield, as both defences remained compact and organised to deny any clear-cut chances. Durham exhibited composure and skill, maintaining possession and passing the ball out from the back comfortably, looking to create chances down the wings.
A breakthrough came from Bella Coetzee as she intercepted the ball in defence and went on a mazy solo run through the midfield. Bella’s run took her into the final third, but her promising through ball was picked up by the York defence.
The 3s continued to keep hold of the ball well, looking to break York’s backline. At the 30-minute mark, some build-up play from Durham materialised into a chance for Emily Thomas, who tested the keeper but couldn’t manage to put Durham up.
The rest of the second half saw some promising link-up play between the midfield and the front three, and solid defensive work from Durham, but the team went into halftime at 0-0.
Durham went into the second half with renewed determination to create some goal-scoring opportunities, looking to test York’s keeper more. Not long after coming on, Helen Dooner managed this. With Rosie Graham working with Liv Fairhurst to carry the ball down the left wing, Helen picked up the ball and curled a shot past the centre-back. York’s keeper managed to save the shot, but Durham were doing well to break York’s backline.
A swift counter-attack from York saw a looping shot saved comfortably by Durham’s keeper Millie Crawford, whose quick distribution allowed Durham to create more chances in the attacking third.
Durham’s final opportunity of the game came from Emily Thomas, as her corner curled dangerously into the York box. York managed to scramble the ball away, clearing it out of their final third. Durham maintained possession for the final few minutes, but no chances materialised into goals.
A strong battle from the 3s, as they look to bring this determination to next week’s cup match.
- Jess Fuller
Final Score: Durham 0 - 0 York
York 1s vs Durham 2s (A)
The girls headed off nice and early for their first away day in York. Having lost to Newcastle in the last game, winning this match was vital for the team.
The girls’ performance from the start was promising. With both fullbacks - Zuzu Zaldua and Izzy Miller - constantly pushing up, the team created extra width and an extra player in attack to threaten their defence. The midfield, notably Emily Baker and Leah Monk, linked up well to play neat through balls to both wingers and our striker. Although the team failed to hit the back of the net on a few occasions, the team didn’t drop their heads.
After a defensive error, York was through in on goal against the keeper. Despite a questionable offside decision due to the lack of assistant officials, York managed to score with ten minutes left of the first half.
York 1-0 Durham.
Durham were ready to take on the second half with more attacking flair and a calm head. The good football didn’t stop; playing out from the back, composure from the defence, and clever runs from the attack.
Captain Charlotte Kingsbury intercepted the ball from a York attack and played it to Emily Baker in midfield. After a quick turn and an intelligent through ball to Liv Berry on the wing, the ball was driven into the box and laid off to Ella Richards who scored for Durham. This excellent piece of play fuelled the Durham side to push for the win.
York 1 - 1 Durham.
And just like that, the intensity and pace of the game increased. York broke through the defence and hit the crossbar, only to hit the crossbar once again from the rebound. Erin Taylor put her body on the line for goalkeeper Ella Beecham’s safe hands to grab the ball.
This close call didn’t phase Durham, as fast attacking play continued. The ball made its way up to the field from right back to right wing, with Grace Clancy crossing it into Rose Newman. Rose struck the ball from the outside of the box and it curled into the top left corner. An absolute screamer.
York 1 - 2 Durham.
The team parked the bus for the last ten minutes and saw the game out. A well deserved 2-1 for Durham 2s, currently sitting joint top of the table. Man of the match: Zuzu Zaldua
- Charlotte Kingsbury
Durham 1s vs Northumbria 1s (H)
The match began with Durham on the back foot, under pressure from an energetic Northumbria side. After a Northumbria free kick on the edge of the box was drilled low ,leading to a massive chance in front of a Durham goal, Durham were lucky to not concede. Durham goalkeeper Anna King was called into action several times, making crucial saves to keep Durham level. Despite the chances and saves, the first half was left goalless, with Durham knowing that they desperately need to up their game.
And that they did. The second half was a much needed improvement from Durham, however Northumbria broke the deadlock within the first 10 minutes of the restart from an attack after Durham carelessly gave the ball away after playing out from the back. This was a big blow to the Durham first team, however they were determined to not let this goal deter them from the win.
Durham came close to an equaliser when Faye Dale got on the end of a superb long ball from Erin Brown but unfortunately lifted her shot just agonisingly over the crossbar.
The last few minutes saw Durham put in a massive shift. A great run from Vicky Neuefeind, accompanied by a brilliant cross in from the left, saw number 9 Faye Dale get on the end of it with an equally amazing header to equalise.
Full time and the game ended 1-1. A sub par performance, but an important point in the local derby. Durham sit 2nd in the league, 2 points behind St Andrews and tied on points with Nottingham.
- Emma Wallis
Despite some frustrating scores, Durham see Wednesday out with no points lost. Some amazing performances this week from the girls, and we now look forward to next Wednesdays fixtures.

[ The second team after beating first in the table York 1s ]
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