Durham University 4, Harleston Magpies 3Harleston Ladies are still seeking their first Division One point of the season after the cruellest of defeats in the North East.

Durham University 4, Harleston Magpies 3

Harleston Ladies are still seeking their first Division One point of the season after the cruellest of defeats in the North East.

A game that started so well for Magpies ended with Durham taking the lead for the first time in the match in the final second with a freak lobbed goal off a defender's stick. The final whistle went before the game could be restarted.

It was a cruel way to lose a game in which Magpies had promised so much in the early stages. Their early pressure saw Angie Wheelhouse put them ahead from a right wing cross and a well worked free hit between Debbie McAllen and Angie nearly set up Cherry Seaborn for the second - which eventually came when Artemis Clark scored with a good penalty corner strike.

Despite the scoreline, Durham's forwards were causing Magpies problems and it was no surprise when they pulled a goal back before half time.

In the second half the Magpies' defence was individually and collectively increasingly stretched before Durham equalised.

But, within minutes, 15-year-old Seaborn broke into the Durham circle and scored her first National League goal with a shot from the top of the circle. Despite her youth she has greatly impressed this season and it was nothing less than she deserved.

Both defences struggled to cope with the opposing attacks and despite some excellent saves from keeper Lucy Hayman, Durham pulled back to 3-3. The game could have gone either way at this point - but just as it seemed certain to finish in a draw Durham snatched their winner.

Magpies' defence had improved considerably in recent weeks so on a day when their forwards excelled it was disappointing that they made a number of basic errors that cost them the chance of a result.