Organising friendlies when you’re a WSL club must be quite tricky. The recent pre-season results have shown that there is still a massive gap between all of the tiers of the women’s game. Durham beat Guiseley 7-0 last week and that was the second tier vs the third tier. Today’s game was the same as Middlesbrough play alongside Guiseley now in the Women’s Premier League and again, it wasn’t greatly competitive. Step the WSL side up to WSL1 (Birmingham) and they put 22 past West Brom (another Premier League side) earlier without reply. As a WSL side, I suppose the only way you can really have a competitive pre-season friendly is by playing fellow WSL teams and they always say not to play teams from your own league in pre-season. Durham will be doing that before the season starts and they probably need it to be fully ready for the season. I’ve watched two Durham pre-season games now and although they were both against lower opposition, the Wildcats have been very impressive. I like to think they’ll be right up there in WSL2 this coming season.

Match report:

Durham Women hit Middlesbrough for eight

Durham Women cruised to an 8-0 win over Middlesbrough Women on Sunday afternoon at Maiden Castle.

Nicki Gears bagged a brace while Jordan Atkinson, Sarah Wilson, Zoe Ness, Nicola Worthington, Caroline Dixon and Abi Cottam all collected a goal each as the Wildcats ran riot over their Premier League opposition.

Helen Alderson, Ellie Christon and Emily Roberts all came back into the starting XI having missed the Guiseley game last weekend.

Durham couldn’t have hoped for a better start as Atkinson opened the scoring after just 80 seconds. The winger drove down the wing before cutting in and firing a low drive which deflected off a Middlesbrough defender before finding the far bottom corner.

Wilson then sent a rather unexpected header over from a matter of two or three yards while Beth Hepple’s effort was saved by Middlesbrough’s Rebecca Lillystone.

With Middlesbrough’s first chance, Rebekah Bass found room to shoot in the sixth minute but her effort failed to trouble Alderson.

Despite Middlesbrough’s chance, Durham were well on top and another chance soon came the way of the WSL outfit when Dixon’s header from a Hepple cross was well saved.

In the 12th minute, Middlesbrough won a corner and a clever move saw Emily Scarr quickly play it short. A one-two saw the forward recollect possession and she drove into the penalty area before firing a shot into the side-netting.

Atkinson and Ness both had further chances for Durham before an injury to a Middlesbrough player delayed play for a couple of minutes.

On the 20 minute mark, Durham made it 2-0. Some great build-up play saw numerous passes cumulate with Hepple and Ness playing a one-two before the latter finished well.

Nicki Gears forced a good save from Lillystone in the 23rd minute before Scarr had an effort for the visitors which darted not too far wide of the far top corner.

Fine work from Roberts saw the former Doncaster Rovers Belles winger beat four players before bombing forward for the Wildcats but her eventual shot failed to really trouble Lillystone.

Gears then headed a Christon cross over before Durham extended their lead to three. Hepple’s corner found Roberts at the back post and she drilled the ball back across goal where the unmarked Wilson headed home.

Ness then headed Kathryn Hill’s cross narrowly over while Gears also went close with a header.

Boro did have the ball in the net just after the half hour mark but it was ruled out as the ball had went out of play in the build-up.

In the 34th minute, Gears drove down the wing before laying the ball off the Ness. The Scottish international held the ball up well before knocking it off to Gears who drilled a first time effort into the far top corner from a tight angle.

A superb crossfield ball from Hill picked out Gears with five minutes of the first half to play but her shot was saved by Lillystone.

Well on top, Durham added a fifth a minute later as Gears collected her brace. Worthington pulled the ball back for former West Alabama forward who picked out the bottom corner from 20 yards.

A quick one-two between Ness and Hepple gave the latter one last chance before half-time but the attacking midfielder failed to find the target.

Ness and Hill both went close for Durham early in the second half before Hepple forced a superb save from Lillystone in the 54th minute.

Only a minute later though, Durham made it six. It was certainly the pick of the goals as Worthington took aim from 35 yards and her effort dipped at the last-minute to find the top corner.

Full of confidence, Worthington had another go from just outside the penalty area two minutes later and her effort this time rattled the crossbar.

Hepple then hit the crossbar of the rugby posts with a free-kick before Dixon added Durham’s seventh. Cottam had hit the post and Dixon was quickest to react to poke home.

Eve Gaitens almost found a sight of goal for the away side in the 65th minute but Alderson was quickly off her line to prevent any danger.

Moments later, at the other end, Durham added their eighth. Ness’ through ball played Cottam in and she slotted home as Middlesbrough shouted for offside.

Durham created several half chances in the final 20 minutes with Cottam and Mercy Darkoah now leading the line.

No further Durham goals were to come and it was Middlesbrough who went closest to scoring. Millie Bell burst down the wing and cut it to fire a shot which beat substitute Megan Borthwick but it bounced back off the post.

This would prove to be as close to a goal as Middlesbrough came and Durham ran out comfortable 8-0 winners.

Full-time: Durham Women 8-0 Middlesbrough Women

Next up for me is a game midweek.

Durham Women Starting XI: Alderson, Christon, Wilson (c), Dixon, Hill, Briggs, Hepple, Roberts, Atkinson, Ness, Gears

Admission: £2

Attendance: 100

Programme: No