Nott a problem for Lady Mags - thanks to Megan
A SECOND-HALF brace by Megan McKenzie secured Newcastle United’s place in the next round as they won at Nottingham Forest 2-0.
The higher-league hosts started strongly but were made to pay for their missed chances.
Nicola Emery wasted three opportunities in the opening quarter, while Grace Donnelly denied Kelly Darby with a good save.
Amy Dicken shot wide before Emery was brought down outside the box when through on goal, the resulting free-kick hit directly at the wall.
Steph Ord had two good efforts for United, her free-kick going over while a shot flashed past the post.
McKenzie also had two shots off target as the sides went in level at the break.
Four minutes into the second period, McKenzie gave Newcastle the lead.
Totally unmarked, she slotted past goalkeeper Rebecca Thomas into the bottom left-hand corner.
Thomas denied Newcastle with two more good saves before the Lady Mags did double their advantage, McKenzie again from a similar position shooting past the stranded goalkeeper.
Donnelly made a good save to stop a Natasha Hudson goalbound shot, while Ord tried her luck from inside her own half - Thomas saving what would have been a remarkable goal.
The host enjoyed the majority of possession, Darby going close again, but were unable to breach a determined defence.
Ord had another free-kick saved two minutes from time before Newcastle started celebrating their place in the third round.
There was an embarrassing error by the FA after a team who had lost the previous day came out of the hat in Monday’s third-round draw.
Sporting Khalsa were drawn away to Newcastle United but the New Saints, who beat Sporting, not surprisingly queried their omission.
After clarification, it was confirmed Welsh border side TNS, from Oswestry, would provide the Lady Mags’ first opposition of 2018.
The third-round clash will take place on Sunday, January 7, the winners entering the fourth-round draw when the FA Women’s Super League clubs enter.
FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division leaders Middlesbrough eased past NERWFL Premier Division side Farsley Celtic 8-1, earning a home draw against Newcastle’s league rivals Liverpool MF in the third round.