DURHAM WOMEN enjoyed the biggest day of their short history as a club-record crowd of 1,629 watched them narrowly fail to overcome Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the SS FA Women’s FA Cup.

Durham lost out to Ji So-yun’s 29th-minute strike at New Ferens Park, but their performance against the reigning Women’s FA Cup holders proved just how far they have come since they were formed in 2013 as a collaboration between South Durham, Cestria Girls and Durham University.

The Wildcats have overtaken Sunderland Ladies to establish themselves as the North-East’s leading women’s team, and having made Chelsea work extremely hard for a semi-final spot, will now be targeting a strong finish to their FA Women’s Championship campaign.

“We average 400 people, who come week in, week out, and it was brilliant to have such a big support,” said Durham captain Sarah Wilson. “Every single person who supported us was fantastic.

“We had some great chances. We defended well from the front. We were so well-disciplined, every player knew their jobs.

“To play as we did and hold a quality side like Chelsea to just 1-0 is something we can be really proud of. It’s not just the squad who can be proud, it’s everyone who works incredibly hard for this club – it’s a credit to them too.

“Chelsea had clearly done their homework on us. For a top WSL team like Chelsea to come here and change their players and tactics around is a great credit to us.”

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes showed Durham great respect by selecting six members of the starting side that beat Arsenal 3-1 in last year’s final, but it was Durham who almost made a dream start when Wilson’s free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Chelsea’s North-East goalkeeper, Carly Telford, with Sarah Robson heading over the rebound.

Zoe Ness was high and wide with a long-range effort as Durham continued to push, but Chelsea went in front with their first attempt on goal. Ji got on the end of Erin Cuthbert’s cross from the left and showed great composure to beat Hannah Reid from close range.

Durham, with the strong wind in their favour, forced four corners but were unable to trouble Telford.

After the break, Millie Bright tried her luck from long range, but her effort was straight at Reid while she also headed over from a corner, with Ji twice off-target from inside the area.

Hayes introduced Ramonna Bachmann and only a superb block by Kathryn Hill denied the Swiss forward from finding the net.

Bachmann hit the post late on, but while Chelsea were not able to add to their tally, a fourth straight clean sheet proved sufficient to take them through.

“It was very tough,” said Chelsea midfielder Jess Carter. “The conditions probably worked in Durham’s favour and they were a strong side. It got a bit shaky at the end, but we got the 1-0 and that was all that mattered.

“With the wind as bad as it was, we were unable to play the type of football that this Chelsea team wants to play but it’s football – you have to adapt. We got the goal and got the win - that’s what counts.”


Durham (5-3-2): Reid; Christon (Dixon 88), Hill, Wilson, Salicki, Holmes (Gears 53); Robson, Hepple, Robertson; Roberts (Cottam 88), Ness.

Subs (not used): Borthwick, Knott.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Telford; Mjelde, Carter, Eriksson; Blundell (Bachmann 59), Bright, Ji, Riley; Cuthbert (Engman 88), England, Kirby.

Subs (not used): Carney, Andersson, Cooper, Spence, Berger.


* To follow all of the action during the season and to buy tickets, visit www.ticketstores.co.uk/fawsl/