Sheffield United came from two goals down as they defeated Durham 5-2 at Maiden Castle this afternoon.
Luke Turner’s return to interim management at Sheffield United got off to a great start with his side showing the grit, determination and togetherness required to take the club forward.
The first half was a thrill a minute with neither side willing to do anything other than attack. Sheffield United had appeals for a penalty in the fourth minute when Jess Sigsworth went down under the challenge of Lauren Briggs but nothing was given. The Blades then went close to breaking the deadlock a minute later but Sophie Haywood couldn’t keep her shot down.
Durham went straight up the other end and scored. Amy Andrews raced away down the left before firing a shot across goal and into the far corner of the net. It should have been 2-0 Durham almost immediately when Beth Hepple was handed a golden chance eight yards out but she somehow sent her effort wide.
Visiting keeper Fran Stenson then did well to keep a powerful Andrews shot out of the net before Hepple made it 2-0 when she capitalised on a mix up between defender and goalkeeper.
Despite being two goals down, you always felt that Sheffield United weren’t out of it and it was soon game on when Tara Bourne headed home from a free-kick. Bourne was again involved in The Blades’ equaliser. She was fouled in the box and Isobel Goodwin slotted away the resulting penalty kick.
The last big chance of a breathtaking first half went Sheffield United’s way. Goodwin forced a good save from home keeper Naoisha McAloon with a header from a corner. A goal-mouth scramble followed with a further shot being cleared off the line as the first period ended 2-2.
Sheffield United picked up from where they left off at the start of the second half and within the first minute, they were ahead. Jess Sigsworth found herself one-on-one with McAloon and she expertly fired low into the bottom corner. Haywood then forced an excellent save from McAloon as The Blades searched for further goals.
The visitors put daylight between themselves and the hosts just after the hour. Sheffield United were awarded a penalty after Goodwin was brought down by McAloon in the box. The forward stepped up to take the spot kick herself and she again beat the keeper from 12 yards. Goodwin soon had the ball in the net again but she was denied her hat-trick by the offside flag.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline in the closing stages of the match. First, Stenson prevented Andrews from scoring with a full-stretch save before Goodwin was again denied a hat-trick at the other end, McAloon getting her body behind the shot.
Goodwin was to have the final say. Deep in second half stoppage time, she finally claimed the match ball with a lob over McAloon. The player could even have scored a fourth goal if not for the fingertips of the Durham keeper.
The game ended 5-2 in favour of the visitors with Sheffield United moving to within a point of Durham in the Barclays Women’s Championship table.
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