Rovers Ladies recorded their maiden Championship victory at previously unbeaten Durham - much to the delight of boss Gemma Donnelly.

Ellie Stewart’s first-half penalty ensured Rovers returned to East Lancashire with the points having ended Durham’s 100 per cent start.

And Donnelly was proud of the efforts of her players, who like her, would have slept well after recording a first win of the campaign.

She told the club website: “I haven’t slept for two months. I’m just so buzzing for the girls and everybody involved.

“It’s been tough but the girls have kept their heads. We’ve not encountered negativity and I thought they were absolutely brilliant.

“They really stuck to the game plan and left nothing on the pitch.

“They’ve come off and they’re tired – fair play to them, they deserved it.

“We’re all so relived to finally get some points on the board.

“I can’t say it was the prettiest football, it was just effective”

Durham piled on some early pressure in Sunday's meeting and Stewart was forced to head an effort off the line, while goalkeeper Fran Stenson pulled off a superb one-on-one save to deny Iris Achterhof.

Rovers had their own chances and went close when Natasha Fenton’s header cannoned off the crossbar from Jess Holbrook’s corner.

At the other end, Stenson was on hand to deny Achterhof again from point blank range.

The opening goal came when Stewart scored from the spot after Saffrdon Jordan had been fouled.

Stenson would be called upon again in the second-half and the Arsenal loanee kept Rovers in front when she got down to palm away Megan Bell’s close range strike, with Rovers negotiating the closing stages well to move off the bottom of the table.

“First-half we were quite lucky until getting the penalty. Fran Stenson has been absolutely unbelievable,” Donnelly said.

“That cascaded from back to front in terms of everybody’s commitment and passion and willingness to put bodies on the line and that’s exactly what we’ve done.

“We’ve gone in front once or twice this season but teams have nicked it back so that’s testament to the girls and their mental strength.

“You couldn’t come to a tougher team to play when you’re searching for points and they’ve really pulled it out of the bag, so I’m delighted for them.”