The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Back to home page

Stalemate at the Silverlake

Southampton 1 Durham Women 1

Southampton and Durham Women fought out a well contested 1-1 draw in their Barclays WSL 2 clash at the home of Eastleigh FC.

Both sides scored in the half which they dominated, Durham's early advantage being cancelled out soon after the break. Saints mounted a strong finish but the visitors stood firm to take a point back to the North East.

 

Saints created a good early chance when Ellie Brazil's cross from the left found Atlanta Primus in front of goal but her first time shot was kept out by keeper Catriona Sheppard and cleared. That was good as it got for the hosts as Durham struck the first blow when Beth Hepple took advantage of hesitant defending to toe poke the opener past Fran Stenson on ten minutes.

 

Durham were denied a second by a fine Stenson save on 24 minutes as Molly Lambert was played in on goal and the visitors remained largely in control  till the break with Southampton offering little threat beyond the occasional set piece.

 

The half time break seemed to work magic on the home team and gave the 1,320 crowd something to cheer, winning challenges, passing crisply and supporting each other with good movement to stretch the Durham defence. Primus had already gone close from a right wing cross before the 52nd minute equaliser. An indication of the more adventurous  approach was central defender Amy Goddard chasing a long pass right on the goal line, then delivering an inch perfect pass for Primus to sidefoot past Sheppard.

 

Durham were still dangerous on the break and Hannah Blake went close to restoring the lead on the hour but the majority of the pressure was at the other end as the corner count reached double figures but Sarah Wilson and her fellow defenders were solid in front of the impressive Sheppard. All in all a draw felt like a fair result and leaves Southampton in sixth place and Durham in ninth.

Southampton: Fran Stenson, Megan Collett, Tara Bourne, Ellie Hack, Jess Simpson, Chloe Peplow, Aimee Palmer, Atlanta Primus, Michaela McAlonie, Maria Edwards, Emma Brazil. Subs: Amy Goddard, Abbie Ferguson, Milly Mott, Mary Bashford, Ruby-Rae Tucker, Ashanti Akpan, Ella Pettit, Isabel Watts, Esta Roberts.

Durham Women: Catriona Sheppard, Grace Ayre, Lauren Briggs, Tyler Toland, Sarah Wilson, Beth Hepple, Mollie Lambert, Hannah Blake, Poppy Pritchard, Mariana Speckmaier, Michaela Foster. Subs: Abbey Jones, Lucy Watson, Sarah Robson, Anna King, Abbi Grant, Grace Ede, Ella Wilson, Leyla McFarland.