Heed boss welcomes test in loss to Toon XI
COULD STEPH BE LIFTING A TROPHY FOR HER COUNTRY? MANAGER ENCOURAGED AFTER TEAM TAKES ON UNDER-23S
GATESHEAD were defeated for the first time this pre-season at the hands of a lively Newcastle United XI.
First half goals from Yasin Ben ElMhanni and Victor Fernandez gave Newcastle a half-time lead, before substitute Dan Ward added another after the break.
The home side never really got going, registering just three shots on target throughout the match.
Nevertheless Gateshead manager Neil Aspin remained upbeat.
He said: “Its really good to have Newcastle here because they’ve got some really good players, but it’s not nice to lose a game.
“In a sense, it was good to play them because their movement and passing was up a level to what we’re used too.
“We can’t replicate that in training sessions so it was a good workout and the players were asked questions that they aren’t normally asked during the week.
“You learn a lot about your players win at a major tournament in 12 years. It was not just the emphatic 6-0 scoreline, but the fact they hardly broke sweat in Utrecht, and Spain can be forgiven for travelling to Breda with a sense of dread ahead of their game today. There is a real sense of momentum behind England, and that comes from the positivity flowing as you’ve got to look at different combinations and who can do what.
“I did learn a lot and it was a really good game for us today, like I say, it shows the strength that Newcastle have, and it sounds cliched, but it was a learning curve today.”
The young Magpies enjoyed more of the possession in the opening encounters as Liam Smith tested James Montgomery from close range, having latched on to a poor Russell Penn back pass.
Smith then played his part as Newcastle went close again – the forward rounded Montgomery before squar- ing to Ivan Toney, whose shot was headed off the line by Neill Byrne.
Newcastle winger Fernandez was instrumental in the first goal, out pacing Theo Vassell before playing the ball to El-Mhanni, whose 20-yard strike flew past Montgomery.
Gateshead’s best chance of the first half fell to Danny Johnson as the striker’s header was palmed over the bar by Nathan Harker after the Heed turned the screw.
But the home side’s work was undone as Hernandez then turned goalscorer, cutting inside before looping a shot over Montgomery. Newcas-
SSE is an official partner of the England Women’s team and is proud to be the energy behind women’s football, supporting the game from grassroots through to international level. Follow them at @YourSSE tle substitute Dan Ward wriggled a shot under Gateshead substitute goal keeper Dan Hanford to complete the goal scoring for the afternoon. Gateshead were made to rue their missed chances as Richard Peniket drove forward to create a chance for himself, but his shot could only warm the hands of Otto Huuhtanen.
The Tynesiders’ best chance of the game fell to Jordan Burrow, who was unable to turn Wes York’s delivery inside the post.
Newcastle boss Peter Beardsley was more than happy with his side’s performance. He said: “Today, the pitch was really good and the rain before kick off helped us as we like to pass the ball and move. I thought some of the football we played was really, really good. To be fair, all of the goals were great goals and the old saying goes, it doesn’t matter how you score, but it is nice when you score goals like that.”