Durham have completed their preparations for the new FA Women’s Championship season with an 8-0 pre-season friendly victory over Newcastle United at Maiden Castle this afternoon.
The Wildcats faced a Newcastle United side who were unbeaten throughout their pre-season campaign while they opened their FA Women’s National League Division One North campaign with a 6-0 win at FC United of Manchester last weekend but The Lady Magpies were no match for Lee Sanders’ side.
Durham opened the scoring early in the match when Beth Hepple was tackled in the box and Lauren Briggs headed the loose ball home and it was soon 2-0 when Kathryn Hill hooked her effort into the net after being found at the back post by a Hepple corner.
Hepple then tapped home a third Durham goal after Newcastle United failed to deal with a low ball across the box before Sarah Robson thumped home a stunning effort from distance to make it 4-0 in a little over half an hour. The Wildcats were to go into the break five goals to the good thanks to a stunning long range effort from Hepple which sailed beyond visiting keeper Grace Donnelly into the roof of the net.
Durham again came out flying in the second half and they added two further goals in quick succession. First, captain Sarah Wilson tapped home a Hill pass after Hepple’s initial free-kick had been saved before Ellan Packham put through her own net.
A succession of substitutions then arguably took some of the sting out of the Durham attack but there was still time for substitute Dee Bradley to head home an eighth goal for The Wildcats after connecting with a corner kick from the right.
Durham begin the new FA Women’s Championship season against Watford at Maiden Castle next Sunday.
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