Newcastle United Women defeat Forest to move into FA Cup fifth round | OneFootball

Newcastle United Women progressed to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup and a tie away to either Crystal Palace or Sheffield United, after having to grind out a narrow 1-0 win over third tier side Nottingham Forest at Kingston Park on Sunday.

The East Midlands side were the only team to beat Newcastle at Kingston Park last season as the pair battled it out for promotion to the Championship.

That game, which took place almost a year to the day, saw Forest come from behind to claim a 2-1 victory and they arrived on Tyneside confident they could repeat that performance.

Sunday was the first time Newcastle’s fans got to see the Lasses in action for 2025, with 1,445 braving the chilly conditions. The attendance was impressive given the men’s team were also playing at home in the cup to Bromley.

The Lady Mags haven’t been in action for four weeks but an ever growing injury list restricted manager Becky Langley’s team selection. With Forest able to name nine players on their bench, United could only name five fit players to theirs. Two of those were goalies, while a third, Ava Chapman, was called up from the Development Team having not previously featured for the first team.

Forest came through a gruelling midweek game with Burnley to earn the right to face Newcastle, which went to extra time. The vital game time following the Christmas Break proved useful as a fresh looking Forest edged the opening exchanges.

There were very few chances in the first half, with Forest’s Wellings chipping an effort onto the roof of the net from the left wing, before Millie Chandarana, in space on the edge of the area, saw her effort deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing, being the only opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

The closest Newcastle came to breaking the deadlock was when Amy Andrews was played through into the area, by Lia Cataldo, but United’s striker could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle.

United went close again soon after when Isabella Sibley set up Lia Cataldo just inside the area but her whipped effort was fired over the bar.

The home side were forced into using one of their substitutes just before half-time after they ran into further injury trouble. Emma Kelly left the field clutching her Achilles as she limped off for Jas McQuade.

Newcastle did start the second half on the front foot with a flurry of chances in the early stages, only to be denied by some resolute defending from the Forest backline. Katie Barker and Sibley both being denied from inside the area.

With the cup tie approaching the hour mark, Forest had their best chance of the game when Mel Johnson burst into space down the left channel and picked out former United striker Bridget Galloway at the near post, who in turn squared it across goal to Chandarana, but the midfielder stabbed her shot wide.

Newcastle countered at the other end as Andrews forced an excellent stop from Forest goalie Emily Batty. United’s striker controlled Hannah Greenwood’s long ball well, before brilliantly flicking the ball round her marker Mollie Green with a low half-volley.

Soon after, Forest could have taken the lead. when Mel Johnson was rewarded for her relentless high press, forcing an error from United goalie Claudia Moan, but the Forest forward couldn’t tap the loose ball home.

With around 15 minutes to go, Newcastle substitute Shania Hayles had a big chance of her own soon after, when the striker failed to connect from close range. The ball then broke to Katie Barker but she could only fire over with a first-time effort.

However, the deadlock was finally broken soon after, when McQuade pounced on a loose ball before firing a stunning long-range strike which hit the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line to beat a shocked Batty.

Forest came close to an equaliser in added time as Mel Johnson saw her dipping effort saved by a brilliant fingertip stop from Claudia Moan, who somehow was able to turn the ball over the bar as she was falling back. With what had to be the save of the season.

The game wasn’t pretty and the winning goal was far too good for it. However, all that matters is Newcastle United Women advance to the last 16, with some important league games to take place before then.

Newcastle United: Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo, Deanna Cooper, Hannah Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Lois Joel, Emma Kelly (Jas McQuade 44), Katie Barker, Amy Andrews (Ava Chapman 85), Isabella Sibley (Shania Hayles 65)

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly (GK), Hannah Hawkins (GK)

Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin (c), Katie Longhurst, Mollie Green, Nat Johnson, Mel Johnson, Hollie Olding (Holly Manders 81), Freya Thomas, Millie Chandarana, Bridget Galloway (Amy Sims 71), Charlie Wellings