Lee Sanders said his Durham side are “ready for that next step” up into the Women’s Super League, after a battling 1-0 defeat against last season’s double winners Chelsea in their FA Cup quarter-final.

“We keep on putting in these performances against big teams and I think that’s where we deserve to be,” Sanders said. “We’ve been in this league [the Championship] long enough. You look at the team that Chelsea turned out, they didn’t take us lightly and that was the biggest mark of respect for the club and the players. The players want to be playing against, and testing themselves against, the best.”

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You could be forgiven for thinking the visit of the two-times FA Cup winners would be too much for five‑year‑old Durham. And ultimately it was, but the home side were far from being spectators to the biggest tie of their short history. Instead, in a windswept New Ferens Park, the resolute part-timers limited a squad brimming with internationals and would have taken the game to extra time had a late clearance off the line following a goalmouth scramble not spared the visitors.

The Chelsea coach, Emma Hayes, said the conditions had an effect. “I think it was the weather, it’s horrendous and it certainly made it a leveller,” she said. “We’re not princesses and ultimately I’ll expose the team to the elements, we did that in the buildup this week. You have to expect the unexpected when you come here.”

These two teams could not be much further apart geographically, and also in terms of resources. The Wildcats were formed when South Durham & Cestria Girls linked up with Durham University, while Chelsea are one of the best-funded teams in the women’s game with the might of the men’s club there to cover their costs and underwrite losses as needed.

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“We work with everything we’ve got,” said the Durham captain Sarah Wilson. “We’ve got people who work incredibly hard off the pitch to make sure that we’ve got everything on the pitch and today is a credit to them, we’re really proud.” The disparity off the pitch was less obvious on it. This Durham side have thrived at home – in the league they have lost just one game on their Astroturf pitch in the middle of the Belmont industrial estate – against Leicester 3-1.

It did not take long for Hayes’s side to test their defensive resilience in front of a record 1,629 crowd – beating the 912 who showed up for the impressive 3-1 defeat of the women’s football newcomers Manchester United. Fran Kirby, fresh from a hat-trick in midweek, was blocked by Wilson as she looked to swing in a cross in the second minute. Moments later, Kathryn Hill swept in to intercept a piercing through ball that would have put Kirby in.

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It was by no means one-way traffic, though. With Millie Bright moved further forward and Maren Mjelde’s return from injury, the Chelsea backline did not have its usual solidity, and from set pieces the Wildcats threatened. Lisa Robertson’s free-kick beat Carly Telford only to rattle off the crossbar before Sarah Robson headed the follow-up wide.

“I felt it was important that we put a physical team out today with the conditions and knowing what their strengths are,” Hayes said. “Having Millie Bright and Jess Carter in midfield I thought made it harder for them to gain the momentum that they’re used to.”

Wilson said: “It is a credit to us that they put out such a strong side. They could have come here today and played fringe or development players but they didn’t.”

It took 29 minutes before Chelsea, dominant in possession, could get a proper sight of goal, and it was a wonderful piece of skill from Ji So-yun that undid the hard work of Durham. Taking down Erin Cuthbert’s ball at the back post, the South Korean turned and fired past Hannah Reid.

The home side finished strongly, throwing bodies forward as the clock ticked down. In the 90th minute it looked like they had earned a draw, Zoe Ness beating Telford, but her effort was cleared off the line. Nevertheless, this was a valiant effort and an impressive statement of intent from a side with their sights set on the top division.

Women’s football roundup

After stalemate at full time, Reading’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Manchester United exploded into life in extra time. An Alex Greenwood penalty gave United the lead but two minutes later Remi Allen headed in an equaliser. A Natasha Harding own goal saw United retake the advantage, but again Reading levelled, this time through Rachel Furness. Rakel Hönnudóttir bundled the balled over the line in the final minute to give the hosts victory. Reading join Chelsea, Manchester City – who beat Liverpool 3-0 – and West Ham United – who saw off Aston Villa 1-0 – in the semi final draw.

In Spain a staggering 60,739 crowd at the Wanda Metropolitano watched Barcelona close the gap on Atlético Madrid to three points at the top of La Liga Femenina. Goals from the Nigerian Asisat Oshoala and England’s Toni Duggan ensured the title race remains wide open with six games to play in front of what was a new world-record attendance for a women’s club match.