Report: Late equaliser earns Palace a point away at Durham

Women

29 Sept 2025

An injury-time goal from Elise Hughes rescued a point for Crystal Palace Women, as they drew 1-1 away at Durham away in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.

Summary:

Yañez replaces Annets in goal, whilst Sharpe is handed her 100th appearance for Palace
5: There is a significant break in play whilst Swaby receives treatment
21: Great stop from Sheppard denies Vanhaevermaet's header
32: Larkin hits a long-range effort but it is easily saved
HT: Durham 0 - 0 Palace
46: Larkin whips in a fine ball but Hughes can't get her shot right
51: Vanhaevermaet hits the post with a header
79: GOAL - Hepple nods home from a free-kick to put the hosts in front
90+6: GOAL - Hughes pops up at the back post to nab an equaliser at the death
FT: Durham 1 - 1 Palace

Very little separated the two sides throughout the game, but Beth Hepple's header from a free-kick on 79 minutes put the hosts in front.

It looked for all the world that Palace would leave empty-handed, but Elise Hughes popped up at the back post with a late equaliser to rescue a point in Durham.

The Wales international's delight was clear; it was the first Palace goal she had scored since suffering her ACL injury in April 2024.

The game also marked Molly-Mae Sharpe's 100th appearance for Palace, making her the first player in the history of the Women's team to reach 100 competitive appearances in the professional era.

It was a performance to match the occasion as well, as Sharpe put the cross in that was eventually turned home by Hughes.

Palace were on top for most of the first-half, with Durham goalkeeper Catriona Sheppard making a stunning stop to deny Justine Vanhaevermaet on the 21st minute.

Sheppard was also on hand to deny Abbie Larkin on 32 minutes and Sharpe two minutes later, as Palace went into the break still searching for the opener.

The Eagles had the ball in the net just minutes after the restart, but the flag was already up as the team began to celebrate.

Vanhaevermaet managed to steer a header goalwards on 51 minutes, but she was denied again, this time by the post.

Chances were few and far between until the 79th minute, where Hepple nodded home from a free-kick to put the hosts in front.

Durham looked set to claim all three points, with every Palace attack being repelled right up until the sixth minute of extra-time.

Sharpe got the ball high up the field, and managed to turn and fire a decent cross into the box.

Vanhaevermaet got the faintest of touches to steer it to the back post, and there was Hughes to tap the ball in and make it 1-1.

It ended in a draw, and this result leaves Palace in 7th place in the WSL2.

Next up for Jo Potter's side is a crunch game against Newcastle United at home, on Sunday, 5th October.

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Durham: Sheppard (GK), Ayre, Briggs, Toland, Wilson, Hepple, Lambert, Pritchard (Blake, 67), Foster, Stobbs (Salicki, 79), McFarland (Robson, 84)

Subs not used: King (GK), Watson, Grant, Ede, Wilson, Jones

Palace: Yañez (GK), Napier, Sharpe, Hughes, Howat (Watson, 84), Weerden, Nolan, Blanchard, Vanhaevermaet, Larkin (Littlejohn, 84), Swaby

Subs not used: Annets (GK), Arthur, Sibley, Green, Riley

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