DURHAM WOMEN say that versatile attacker Nat Gutteridge has become the third player to commit her future to the club.

Gutteridge, who joined from Sunderland Ladies in 2015, was a vital part of the side that achieved it’s highest-ever league finish last season.

Comfortable in the middle of the park and when leading the line, she had a successful 2016 as she netted nine times in 21 appearances, including a diving header at Oxford and a memorable late winner against Sheffield FC.

Gutteridge said: “I’m really looking forward to next season after last year. It was nice to complete a full season with not really too many injuries, and it’s a nice feeling to have done that after so long.

“I started quite well with goals and then hit a bit of a dry spell in the middle, but by the end I didn’t want the season to finish because I’d got a couple more goals! Hopefully I can carry that on into next season.

“We’re continually growing and continually improving and I think we’re really looking forward to going into the season.

“We’ve set the standard high now and we need to make sure we go in and achieve that.”

Manager Lee Sanders was pleased to see Gutteridge commit, saying: “I’m over the moon Nat’s going to be with us again in 2017.

“I said recently that I thought she was the catalyst when we signed her and she really kicked things on when we brought her to the club.

“She’s got great experience and played in some big games when she was at Sunderland.

“She’s been a great player to be in the team and is a great person to have at the club.

“This year she quietly went about her business and got a lot of goals.

“She’s brave and an absolute warrior on the field - you just need to look at her head injury away at Sheffield where she got bandaged up and just got on with it.

“She’s a vital part of the team in my opinion.”