By james art From Dom Aberdeen
Durham went down 2-1 to neighbors Sunderland at Maiden Castle in a poor first River Wear derby of the Barclays Women’s Championship season.
Hannah Blake gave the Wildcats the lead after nine minutes before a penalty allowed Eleanor Dale to equalize for Sunderland before half-time.
51 of Mary MacArthurStA one-minute strike was then the decisive goal in the derby.
Durham took the lead inside 10 minutes after a scrum fell to Hannah Blake who slotted the ball home to open her Maiden Castle account.
Sunderland came close to an instant reply through Elanor Dale, but a heroic block from Sarah Wilson kept it 1-0.
The Black Cats were awarded a penalty in the 33rdrd a minute after Dale was dropped in a blue shirt. Dale stepped up and converted from the spot to equalize for Sunderland – sending Tatiana Saunders one way and the ball the other, giving the visitors life by the break.
Sunderland took the lead in the 51stSt minute through Mary McAteer after Emily Scarr’s pass fell to the midfielder who slotted it past Saunders to complete the turnaround.
A narrow shot on the Sunderland goal line in the 54thth minute saw Demi Lamborn keep the ball from Lily Crosthwaite despite appeals from the Durham players that she had crossed the line.
Crosthwaite created a handful of chances down the right, but the Wildcats’ top scorer was unable to convert.
Lambourn grabbed the ball before Carly Johns managed in the last minute of normal time to deny Durham an equaliser.
Despite a handful of corners for Durham, Sunderland held on through six minutes of added time to seal victory in the River Wear derby.
Durham: Saunders, Eyre (Ryan-Doyle 87′), Briggs, C Wilson (C), Hepple, Lambert, Johns, Blake (Robson 72′), Crosthwaite, Salicki, Novak (Foster 72′)
Unused subtitles: King, Bradley, E Wilson, Holmes
Objectives: Blake (9′)
Reservations: S. Wilson (58′), Ryan-Doyle (90+2′)
Attendance: 1039