Durham Women recorded their biggest ever league victory with a 4-0 thrashing of London Bees at The Hive on Sunday afternoon.
Two strikes in as many minutes from Beth Hepple kickstarted the victory in the first half before Amelia Pereira and Jess Havelock netted after the break.
The team from the North East dominated right from the first whistle. Amelia Pereira had the beating of the Bees’ defence but a goal line clearance denied the Portuguese winger on 5 minutes, and Jordan Atkinson also carved out an early chance.
However, Durham weren’t made to wait long. Full back Jen Jennings powered down the wing before finding Jordan Atkinson who knocked the ball straight into the path of Hepple. The midfielder finishing with aplomb to give her side the advantage.
Hepple was then able to double the lead just two minutes later when she reacted first to Julie Nelson’s saved shot.
It was almost three soon after, when Pereira went close but for an impressive save from Bees’ keeper Sophie Harris.
The midfielder then rattled the bar with a thunderous volley from 20 yards out just before the half time whistle.
London Bees, who are yet to win this season, created very little to seriously threaten the visitor’s backline, and manager Julian Broomes spoke honestly after the game about his team’s performance.
“The girls are just not expressing themselves enough. There is a lack of willingness to get on the ball as they don’t want to make mistakes, and that in itself is leading to mistakes”.
He added, “The main problem today was that negativity crept into the team. They all want to win so much we end up trying to play a style of football that maybe doesn’t suit the team”.
Durham came out in the second half looking as hungry as they did in the first – Pereira eventually getting the goal her dogged determination had deserved and putting her side 3-0 up.
The Portuguese scored her 4th in as many matches with a superb long range effort that sailed in to the top corner, before Jess Havelock marked her first appearance for the club with a debut goal.
Havelock signed less than a week ago from Newcastle United and the debutant spoke of her perfect start. “I am buzzing to have made the step up to this level”.
“I was a bit nervous before the match with the higher expectations and getting put straight in, but once I got settled it was good quality football”.
On the same day, Durham’s Under 19 side secured the league title, making it an impressive day all-round in the club’s short history.
