Newcastle United Women stay in hunt for Super League thanks to five goal thriller | OneFootball

Newcastle United Women headed into their home with Bristol City sitting in 7th place in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

It was a first game at Kingston for four weeks, after back-to-back away games, followed with a bye week then the international break.

Three of their players had been kept busy, with latest signing Emily Murphy playing for Ireland and Lois Joel starring for Wales. Freya Gregory made her Scotland debut during her country’s Nations League games.

Newcastle quartet; Elysia Boddy, Lia Cataldo, Shania Hayles and Rachel Furness were all part of the Championship winning Bristol City squad two seasons ago, with Cataldo and Furness facing their former side for the first time.

The game got off to a fast start with Newcastle taking the lead just seven minutes in, thanks to an excellent strike from flying winger Beth Lumsden.

However, less than a minute later, the Robins were back level when Malaika Meena, who was making her full debut for City, equalised, after arriving late into the area to fire home from an Emily Syme assist.

The high tempo start to the game continued with Lumsden scoring a near identical goal to her first on the quarter hour mark. Hammering home after cutting in onto her left foot.

After such an exciting start, the rest of the half played out with chances at a premium. Bristol went close when Ffion Morgan’s cross was blocked after a well-executed backheel from Syme. Before United goalie Claudia Moan reacted well to stop an attempted backheel flick from Lexi Lloyd-Smith.

Bristol looked the more dangerous side after the restart. Lloyd-Smith fired over five minutes in before she sent in a deep free-kick to the far post for Mari Ward, who couldn’t quite connect on the end of it. Scottish international Jamie-Lee Napier was also a constant threat down the left, linking up well with Chloe Mustaki throughout the half.

Newcastle responded well though and on 64 minutes, Charlotte Wardlaw, stabbed an effort goalwards from a corner, but the visitors managed to scramble the ball off the goal line. Ten minutes later, Robins goalie Fran Bentley was forced into a save to deny United striker Emily Murphy from a tight angle, on what was her home debut.

The visitors brought on Ella Powell and Tianna Teisar which saw them begin to build some pressure in the Newcastle area. With 10 minutes to go that persistence paid off as City midfielder Amy Rodgers rose highest to loop a header home from a corner for the equaliser. It was her first of the season.

Within a minute though, the Lady Mags went back ahead. Virtually from the kick off Freya Gregory sent a free kick into the box which landed perfectly at the feet of defender Deanna Cooper who squeezed home right on Bentley’s doorstep.

Bristol were not going to give up that easy though and sent tall defender Sille Struck forward as an extra target in the area, along with introducing Amalie Thestrup as a substitute.

A couple of goalmouth scrambles almost saw the Robins equalise but the ball was eventually put behind for a goal-kick. Then a minute later City felt they had a strong penalty appeal after Syme went down in the area, but United held on for what was a big win and an even more important three points.

Newcastle United: Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo, Deanna Cooper (Amber-Keegan Stobbs 89), Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes (c), Hannah Greenwood, Rachel Furness (Jasmine McQuade 60), Lois Joel, Beth Lumsden, Emily Murphy, Freya Gregory (Katie Barker 90+4).

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly, Shania Hayles, Ella Baker, Amy Andrews, Isabella Sibley, Ava Chapman.

Where that leaves Newcastle United Women

Newcastle remain as they were before the game in seventh place.

However, as you can see, they have 23 points from 13 games played and have two games in hand on most of the sides above them. Meaning maximum points from those games would propel them up to second in the table, whilst they also have top of the table Birmingham to play in the final home game of the season, with only the league winners set to be promoted to the Super League. Newcastle United are currently a point back of opponents Bristol and rivals Sunderland and two behind fourth placed Charlton.

Newcastle United Women have another week off due to their exit in the Women’s FA Cup. They return to action on Sunday 16th March, where they make the short journey down to Durham on the same day the men’s team will face Liverpool in the League Cup Final.

Following that match at Durham, we have the proper derby, which is set to take place at St James’ Park on Sunday 23rd March. With both the East Stand and Gallowgate already sold out, the latest ticket sales have already reached the 20,000 mark.