OXFORD United Women suffered their first defeat of the season as they were beaten 3-0 at Durham in the FA Women's Super League 2 on Sunday.

The U's were on top for much of the game, but struggled to convert their chances and were punished by a clinical Durham side.

United got off to the worst possible start, falling behind after just six minutes when Jordan Atkinson found an unmarked Becky Beech lurking at the back post, who was granted an easy tap-in from just two yards.

Oxford pressed for an equaliser, with Kayleigh Hines, Sahara Osborne-Ricketts and Lindsay Pinker all going close before the break, but they were unable to hit the target.

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Durham goalkeeper Helen Alderson was on superb form to deny Pinker and Katie Stanley early in the second half and preserve the home side's advantage.

And they put the match beyond the visitors on 70 minutes when Amelia Pereira swerved through several challenges before unleashing an unstoppable effort from 20 yards, which flew into the bottom corner.

Courtney Corrie rubbed salt into the Oxford wounds with a third deep into stoppage time, rounding United keeper Demi Lambourne before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Oxford Utd: Lambourne, Bruce, Lane, Osbourne-Ricketts, Chivers, Nutman, Hines, Pinker (Allison 65), Pickett, Stanley (Low 70), Simmonds. Subs not used: Jaadla, Cox, Walklett.

Referee: S Packer.

Attendance: 251.