Durham serious title contenders but promotion might be a step too far

A second-half Nicki Gears header helped Durham secure a 1-0 win against Sheffield United to keep the North East club top of the Women’s Championship with the majority of sides having now played eight games.

There was little between the two sides on the day with very few chances created in the game, but Durham managed to find the net and then grind out the win.

Lee Sanders’ side are still only one point clear at the top after Leicester won 9-1 at Coventry United, but with Sheffield United losing and Liverpool drawing Durham still extended their lead on two of the three sides in the chasing pack.

The two sides largely cancelled each other out in the first half, though Sheffield United should have been in front midway through the half.

Rhema Lord-Mears hit a strong effort from just outside the box which struck the inside of the post and fell perfectly for Mel Johnson, a few yards out, who somehow managed to blaze over with the goal at her mercy.

After the break, Durham came out looking sharper than the first half and being more dangerous when they got forward.

Former Sunderland midfielder Mollie Lambert, in particular, looked to drive the Wildcats forward and was involved in a number of early second half chances, including being fouled in the build-up to the goal.

Lambert was scythed down on the edge of the box towards the corner flag on the nearside by Chloe Dixon, who received a yellow card for the challenge.

From the free-kick, Beth Hepple took aim at goal and was on target, but the shot was palmed away by Fran Kitching in the Sheffield United goal. Unfortunately for Kitching it only went as far as Gears, who pounced to head the ball home and give the league leaders the lead on the day in the 54th minute.
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Within 10 minutes it could have been 2-0. Lauren Briggs picked out Hepple in the box, who played in Gears again, who this time could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle.

Durham had to sit back at times in the second half, but they were comfortable doing that as Sheffield United struggled to create any clear cut chances.

The game management from Durham was very apparent, but very well executed. There were many times in the final half-hour where Briggs would walk 20-30 yards, if not more on some occasions, to take throw-ins.

In the closing stages, Bridget Galloway and Emily Roberts looked to favour taking the ball into the corners rather than looking to double their tally, which you would expect in a game as tight and important as this one.

Durham pressed from the front and were impressive in their work off the ball, Galloway, especially, impressed with her pressing, although did only come off the bench with 20 minutes to play and so had the legs to do that.

All in all, it was a very professional performance from Durham as they showed why they currently lead the way at the top of the Women’s Championship.

Lee Sanders’ side should be considered genuine title contenders at this point, having already played the four sides directly below them in their opening eight games and having not lost a match yet in the league this season.

The real question is, will we see Durham in the Women’s Super League next season? Winning the league will be difficult, Durham are capable of it and have been challenging for years, but this year look stronger than they have in previous seasons.
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Gaining a spot in the WSL is not as easy as winning the league. Clubs need to apply for a license, and to be granted one they need to meet certain criteria when it comes to funding, contact hours, ground requirements, and clubs are also required to have an academy.

Durham would have to make changes to the way the club is run if they were to be promoted. The financial requirements would likely make it difficult for this to take place. Durham are not connected to a men’s side who can bankroll them like many in the top flight, they would have to fund it themselves.

At any point, this would be a big ask for a club to make the changes necessary given how much it would cost, but in this Covid-19 season where clubs up and down the country and struggling for funds, it seems unlikely the North East club would have the necessary resources to make their dream a reality.

Durham have been taking steps forward. This summer the club moved from their home at New Ferens Park in Belmont on the outskirts of the city to Maiden Castle in the heart of Durham.

When spectators are allowed back into grounds the club will hope this will boost their attendance figures. The new central location makes the ground more accessible both to those who live in the city and to those who travel with central Durham having better transport links than Belmont.

The location also allows those travelling in to make a day of it and enjoy time in Durham without having to go out of their way, which makes it a more attractive proposition than the previous ground.

Should the move work out, and the club manages to increase their fanbase when fans are eventually allowed back into grounds by the government, then Durham would likely be in a much better position to apply for promotion in the coming seasons.

That being said, this is all speculation. The club might be in a much healthier position financially than imagined and having come close to the title in recent seasons without winning it, the club might jump at the opportunity of promotion if it comes their way.

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