Durham survived a second-half Watford surge to get off to a winning start in the FA Women’s Championship with a 2-1 win at Maiden Castle.

Both goals for the hosts were close-range finishes, with Lauren Briggs and Beth Hepple profiting after incisive build-up play.

The goal of the came from Watford’s Flo Fyfe, however, whose drive home from distance teed up a nerve-jangling finale in the north-east.

Sarah Robson was the first to go close for Durham, blazing a fierce rising drive over the bar.

And that was a warning before the first goal – which came four minutes later – when Briggs followed up on an effort that thumped the underside of the bar.

Elizabeta Ejupi drilled a shot straight at Watford keeper Georgie Ferguson as the visitors struggled to get any attacking foothold in the game.

Seeking half-time and a chance to regroup, Watford conceded again just before the 45-minute mark, Hepple rolling into an empty net after Robson had slalomed her way down the left side of the box.

Durham started the second half with the same impetus, but Briggs could only drag her low drive wide of the near post 10 minutes after the interval.

A moment of magic would stir the visitors into life, Fyfe taking aim from range to send a superb drive over Megan Borthwick just before the hour mark.

It inspired her side as Watford hit a purple patch midway through the second half, with Ylenia Priest hitting the post with a header and a back post effort looping narrowly over on 69 minutes.

But there would be no equaliser as Durham took the spoils and kickstarted their season in style.

After the match, Watford goalscorer, Fyfe said: “First half we came out in our first game in the Championship with a little bit of nerves and it was very frustrating to concede just before half-time. Second half we knew that whoever got the next goal, that was where the half was going to go. From that goal, we had chance after chance, hit the post and had a lot of really good chances. It is really disappointing not to come away with a draw. I feel that is what we deserved.

“We’ve given away a sloppy goal which we shouldn’t have conceded (just before half-time) so they went in with their tails up and we’ve had to fight in the second half. We gave it a good shot but it was not quite there today. This is probably the hardest place to come and to have it as our first game, we’ve done ourselves proud.

“I’m really happy to score a goal like that, it definitely spurred everyone on and for myself it was really great to score a goal like that, especially in my first game with a new club; first goal for Watford in the Championship so I’m really happy with it.”