Match Report: Daniel Wales

Gateshead Ladies perfect record this season came to an end on Sunday as they drew 1-1 with Durham United Women on home soil.

Durham took the lead midway through the first half, before Gateshead drew level right on half time thanks to Jade Anderson. 

It was the hosts who made the brighter start, striking the post just five minutes in thanks to a cross-come-shot from Katie Lemmon. 

Gateshead maintained the pressure during the first quarter of the first half but were unable to find an opening. 

With 20 minutes played, The Heed saw a Libby West effort fly just over. The ladies’ number 10 connected cleanly with a volley and was unlucky not to see it find the target. 

It was Durham who took the lead, however. An effort from the right beat Carly Salmon at her near post to give the visitors the lead against the run of play. 

The opposition nearly added to their lead with just under half an hour gone, with a shot from outside the area crashing against the crossbar. 

The next ten minutes were scrappy as both sides struggled to gain a foothold, but as the half drew to a close, Gateshead began to up the pressure once again as they searched for an equaliser.  

Several efforts tested the Durham keeper, but she was equal to them, until on the stroke of half time, Anderson found the net from range to bring the sides level going into half time. 

The start of second period saw a lack of significant chances created, with neither side grabbing the initiative to go ahead in the game. 

The Heed began to take control with half an hour left and saw a Montserrat Lomeli chance saved by the Durham keeper, after brilliant work from Anderson on the right to create the opportunity. 

The momentum remained with Gateshead, with an opportunity falling this time to Olivia Black but her shot went just over the bar. 

Durham did see a chance of their own go over with 20 minutes to go, but the home side were still very much on top as the game entered the final stages. 

Anderson almost won the game for Gateshead with five minutes of normal time left, but her effort hit the side netting. 

Gateshead kept searching for a winner as the clock ran down but were unable to find one, with both sides taking a point from the encounter.

Gateshead FC Ladies XI: Salmon, Slade, Bessinger, Coatham, Halliday, West, Lomeli, Badillo, Lemmon, Black, Anderson.

Substitutes: Wilson, Pickering, Stocks, C. Thompson, J. Thompson.

Goals: Anderson (45′)