DURHAM boss Lee Sanders believes he may have unearthed a gem after teenager Jemma Purfield produced a mature display in their draw with Millwall.

It ended goalless at the Den – Durham’s first draw of the FA WSL 2 season – despite a second half in which both sides created chances to win it.

But despite the frustration of settling for a point, Sanders could afford to be pleased with one youngster’s performance in South East London.

“Jemma Purfield has worked really hard and she was threatening and she is a very good young player considering she is only 17,” he said.

“We have played really well, kept possession really well and threatened teams in the last few games but I don’t think we did that as well today.

“But we are really pleased with another clean sheet and we have got a bit of a break next week so everyone can get over niggles and knocks.

“Then we go in against Oxford having beaten them 3-0 at home we’ve got to be looking to take all three points again when we go there.”

In a quiet opening half Purfield got the first shot away with a stinging effort that Sarah Quantrill saved after a deflection.

On 18 minutes Beth Hepple came close to breaking the deadlock, firing a dangerous long-range effort which grazed the top of the crossbar.

Rosella Ayane latched onto a wonderful pass from Naomi Cole 20 minutes later but narrowly missed the target from a tight angle.

Millwall started the second half brightly and Ciara Sherwood shot just wide from outside the box before stinging the goalkeeper’s gloves again six minutes later.

Both sides had chances inside the final 15 minutes but the contest ended goalless – Millwall’s fourth draw in five WSL 2 games.

“I feel better after the second half performance,” reflected Millwall boss Dan Mlinar. “I thought we dominated possession, we looked better and we looked more of an attacking threat.

“Towards the end there if anyone was going to nick it, it was going to be us. Again, we just didn’t quite have that quality to jink or that someone who could make something out of nothing but we are trying to get that.

“If we can add goals this team can push for the top half and push for the top three, but it is a small season so you’ve got to get at it quick or you will run out of games.”

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Durham (4-4-2): Alderson, Havelock, Jennings, Nelson, Wilson, Christon, Hepple, Scott (Jordinson 72), Purfield (Corrie 83), Beech (Atkinson 59), Pereira. Subs (not used): Linsley, Moorhouse

Attendance: 103

Referee: Lou Saunders