Durham have made a winning start to their FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup campaign, beating Blackburn Rovers 3-2 in a real see-saw game at Maiden Castle.
Saoirse Noonan netted a brace for The Wildcats while Eleanor Ryan-Doyle was also on target as the hosts eventually saw-off a plucky Blackburn Rovers outfit.
Durham got off to the best possible start with Noonan breaking the deadlock in just the third minute. Mollie Lambert pulled the ball back across the box and the Republic of Ireland international fired home.
The Wildcats were almost two goals to the good when Noonan got on the end of a cross but the ball was kept out of the net by Hannah Silcock.
Blackburn Rovers responded and they were level on the 20-minute mark. A corner kick found centre-back Helen Seed in the box and she impressively volleyed the ball into the back of the net.
Simon Parker’s side then turned the game completely on its head nine minutes later when Millie Chandarana’s low shot found the bottom corner of the net. Durham felt hard done to with defender Becky Salicki having been down with a head injury in the lead up to the goal.
In first half stoppage time, Evie Smith spurned a great opportunity to score a third goal for Blackburn Rovers before home keeper Naoisha McAloon denied Chandarana. Noonan then saw a shot blocked at the other end as the first period ended 2-1 in the visitors’ favour.
There was less goalmouth action early in the second half. Durham captain Sarah Wilson’s close range effort was well-saved by Shanell Salgado but other than that, good quality chances were few and far between.
In the 72nd minute, Durham were given a golden opportunity to get back into the game when the referee spotted a hand ball in the box. Noonan stepped up to take the penalty kick and she sent Salgado the wrong way, levelling the scores at 2-2.
Both sides went for the win in the final 18 minutes. Blackburn Rovers went close to scoring but Georgia Walters’ long range effort hit the post before Smith scuffed her shot wide from the rebound. Durham were then awarded a second penalty kick when Noonan was fouled in the box. Substitute Ryan-Doyle held her nerve to net the winner from 12 yards.
Durham travel to Sunderland for their next FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup fixture in November while Blackburn Rovers go to Aston Villa.
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