Match Report: Durham 1-1 Newcastle United
Durham Women’s battling display earned themselves a point in the North East derby in the WSL2 on Remembrance Sunday, as they drew 1-1 with Newcastle United.
An early goal by Molly Pike gave Newcastle the lead, but they were pegged back by Mollie Lambert’s strike, which levelled the game and shared the spoils.
A draw at Durham. ⏹ pic.twitter.com/5d8Z87fxLa
— Newcastle United Women (@NUFCWomen) November 9, 2025
Durham headed into Sunday’s contest on the back of consecutive league defeats, while interim Newcastle boss Claire Ditchburn was hoping to start turning their draws into wins.
Newcastle dominated the opening stages, and found their reward, when Pike poked the rebound from Shania Hayles’ cut-back below the outstretched Catriona Sheppard.
However, Durham fought back, and were level midway through the first half. A long throw was not dealt with properly by Femke Liefting, who pushed the ball straight to Lambert’s feet to pass it into the empty net.
The half seemed stuck in deadlock with a battling display by both teams, with Hannah Blake’s smashing effort beating the ‘keeper just before the interval; however, it was given offside.
Pike strikes again
2️⃣ in 2️⃣ since the international break for Molly! pic.twitter.com/Xba6ZAJlLI
— Newcastle United Women (@NUFCWomen) November 10, 2025
Despite an end-to-end start to the second half, it took until the hour mark for the first real chance, as Freya Gregory’s header for the visitors was denied by Sheppard.
Newcastle continued to probe, with Knobbs’ half chance being blocked, before a direct corner was saved by Sheppard in the closing stages of the game.
However, in the dying moments of the game, Durham missed a golden opportunity to claim all three points, as Lambert was played through on goal, before being denied her second by a crucial goal-saving tackle from Deanna Cooper.
The result leaves Durham, who play Southampton next, without a win in three, while Newcastle extend their unbeaten run ahead of their much-anticipated battle with Sunderland on Sunday at St. James’ Park.
