Durham manager Lee Sanders said that his young side did the club proud despite losing this evening’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup fixture at Manchester City by a 3-0 scoreline.
With an important FA Women’s Championship fixture against Crystal Palace on the horizon, Sanders opted to rotate his squad for this evening’s tie against last season’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League runners-up, handing starts to youngsters Grace Ayre, Lily Crosthwaite and Hannah Greenwood.
The neutral could have been forgiven for expecting a large Manchester City victory but the Durham goal was breached on just three occasions with two of the goals coming in the final 10 minutes of the game.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time in the post-match press conference, Durham boss Sanders said that he was proud of his side’s efforts at The Academy Stadium.
“It is disappointing when you concede goals in the last few minutes but to be honest, the girls have conducted themselves unbelievably tonight,” Sanders said. “When you consider the ages of some of the players that we put out, it was the first time on the pitch for some of them at senior level as well.
“We’ve got to be very proud of that.”
Ayre, Crosthwaite and Greenwood were three of five players to have made the step up from club partners Durham Cestria for this evening’s game. Sanders was pleased to have had the opportunity to offer a great playing experience to some young players.
He said “Nights like tonight, it is just great to give them those opportunities. They train with the first team and it is just good to give them some minutes.
“It is difficult to do that throughout the season when we are trying to achieve what we want to achieve, compete and try to win the league and get into the WSL so we get these games week in, week out.
“I’m very proud of the young players for how they stepped up tonight.”
Durham return to FA Women’s Championship action on Sunday when they travel to Hayes Lane to face Crystal Palace.
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