I genuinely believe Durham Women could win the Spring Series in WSL2. It’s a club that is constantly progressing and I can see them being the leading team in women’s football in the north-east in the not too distant future. Sunderland are a club going in the wrong direction while Durham are certainly going in the right direction. There are still some very good sides who will need to be beaten but Durham certainly have a decent chance. Sheffield are one of those sides. I remember when Natasha Flint played for Manchester City in Durham’s first season and she absolutely battered the relatively inexperienced Durham girls. I would certainly have expected her to be playing WSL1 still and even in contention for the England squad but it hasn’t really happened for her in the past couple of years. This game today was my 130th of the season. Exactly a year ago today I was watching Farsley Celtic vs Droylsden in what was my 131st game of that season.

Match report:

Gutteridge header maintains Durham’s 100 per cent record

Durham Women maintained their 100 per cent record with a narrow 1-0 win over Sheffield FC Ladies on Sunday afternoon.

Nat Gutteridge’s 54th-minute header proved the difference between the two sides as Durham claimed a second successive 1-0 win.

Durham manager Lee Sanders made two changes from the FA Cup defeat to Everton with Nicola Gibson and Gutteridge coming in for Sarah McFadden and Tyler Dodds.

Development squad player Lauren Briggs was included amongst the substitutes and made her debut with a 38 minute run-out.

Durham were second best in the opening exchanges and Sarah Wilson was forced into two perfectly timed challenges to prevent dangerous opportunities for Lagan Makin.

With the first shot of the game, Sheffield’s Ellie Gilliat picked out Hannah Dale but her low drive failed to find the target.

Gilliat then headed wide before Durham created their first chance of the afternoon. Beth Hepple’s pinpoint free-kick picked out Becky Salicki but her header dropped a matter of inches over the crossbar.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the first half and tame effort from Sheffield’s Flint and Rachel Lee for Durham were never going to help the crowd become excited.

Durham had Salicki to thank just before half-time when the former Sunderland defender was on hand to clear Cain’s effort off the line.

Emily Roberts then watched on as her glancing header was saved but neither side could break the deadlock and it was all square at the break.

Durham came out for the second half with a bit more urgency and had a chance only four minutes in through Zoe Ness but the Scotland international could only fire over.

However, Durham wouldn’t be left to rue on missed chances as Gutteridge headed them into a 54th-minute lead.

Sheffield cleared a corner as far as Ness and she lifted it back into the penalty area to find the unmarked Gutteridge who headed home from six yards.

Wilson steered a header just over as Durham looked to extend their lead while Ness’ cross-cum-shot was collected by Jules Draycott in the Sheffield goal.

Long-range effort from both Hepple and Roberts were comfortably saved by Draycott before debutant Briggs tried her luck but she could only drag wide.

Sheffield pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but resolute defending meant Durham held out to claim a big three points.

Full-time: Durham Women 1-0 Sheffield FC Ladies

Next up for me is Sunderland U23s vs Manchester United U23s tomorrow.

Durham Women: Alderson, Johnson, Wilson (c), Gibson (Briggs, 52′), Salicki, Christon, Roberts (Jennings, 90+1′), Lee, Hepple, Ness, Gutteridge (Atkinson, 71′)

Unused subs: Borthwick, Dodds

Sheffield FC Ladies: Draycott, Ward (c), Murphy, Gilliatt, Lipman, McCue, Dale (Lord-Mears, 62′), Flint, Jones (Dixon, 72′), Makin (Johnson, 78′), Cain

Unused subs: Wallhead, Jackson, Cox, Owen

Admission: Season ticket for me, otherwise, £5 adults, £2 concessions

Programme: £2

Attendance: 437

Team-sheet: Free

Referee: Lucy Oliver