RIANNA Dean scored twice as Saints FC Women beat Durham 2-1 to move further clear at the top of the Championship.

The hosts took the lead at the Snows Stadium when Morris' shot was saved but Dean calmly struck the ball in.

Eleanor Ryan-Doyle equalised late in the first half when she got on the end of a cross but Dean hit back straight away with a powerful header to put Southampton in front again.

The 24 year old could have had a hat-trick midway through the second half but her penalty was saved by Tatiana Saunders.

Kayla Rendell, Dean, Ella Morris, and Molly Pike all came into the Saints team as they looked to further cement themselves at the top of the Championship.

Dean had Southampton's first effort on goal but her header from Morris' cross was comfortably dealt with by Saunders.

Saints took the lead shortly after when Morris was played through but her effort was saved and Dean was on hand to slot in the rebound.

It had been an excellent start from the Championship leaders and it was all that they deserved for the opening 20 minutes.

Durham went close when Noonan turned sharply in the box and crashed a shot against the crossbar.

The visitors equalised as Ryan-Doyle got on the end of a ball across the six-yard box to poke past Rendell.

It was only level for a couple of minutes though, as Saints retook the lead when Dean powered a header home.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale turned to her bench early in the second half in an attempt to hold on to the three points with Milly Mott and Chloe Peplow on for Sophia Pharoah and Rosie Parnell.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, Dean was brought down in the area by Saunders and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

She picked herself up to take the penalty but was denied superbly by the Durham goalkeeper who guessed correctly to her right-hand side.

Saints held on though and they will next face London City Lionesses next weekend.