Lady Mags’ FA Cup run ended by Saints
NEWCASTLE United’s most successful run in the Women’s FA Cup came to a disappointing end when they lost 2-1 at home to The New Saints.
The Lady Mags produced a battling and confident performance against their FA Women’s Premier League Midlands Division counterparts.
However, they came unstuck due to an early error at the back and a lapse in concentration towards the end.
Both sides were playing in their first third-round tie, played on the 3G pitch at Coach Lane, Benton.
Oswestry-based TNS started positively, Emily Ridge shooting wide after three minutes.
Shortly afterwards, Toon midfielder Megan McKenzie did likewise but, with ten minutes played, TNS took the lead.
A mistake at the back allowed Ridge to cross inside for Kimberley Bebbington, who chested the ball down before firing past Grace Donnelly.
TNS had a good chance to double their advantage before United’s Steph Ord saw her header from a corner cleared off the line.
Donnelly produced a good low save before the hosts nearly equalised shortly before the break when Siobhan Jones played in Rebecca Olley, who shot narrowly wide.
The early goal gave TNS a half -time lead and they started the second period in similar style.
A shot from the edge of the area by Sophie Davies clipped the bar ten minutes in and three minutes later Donnelly made a brave stop to deny Ridge adding a second.
That proved crucial as, two minutes later, Newcastle levelled.
An hour was gone when Siobhan Jones received the ball on the right wing and swung in a teasing cross, Ord - beating the offside trap stooping low to accurately direct the ball past the goalkeeper for a deserved equaliser.
The Lady Mags continued to press forward, testing the visitors’ defence and the goalkeeper.
Ord went close to putting the Lady Mags ahead eight minutes later in similar fashion.
A ball swung in from the right flashed inches in front of the outstretched Ord from six yards out
Another Jones cross found Foster who headed narrowly wide. Substitute Stephanie Lyons shot powerfully from just inside the area following a flick on from Olley, the goalkeeper saving well, before TNS dealt the killer blow.
Seventy-six minutes had gonewhen a through ball left striker Ridge one on one and unmarked in acres of space.
Not a defender was near her as Ridge calmly rounded Donnelly before rolling the ball home.
Newcastle went close soon afterwards when McKenzie’s shot was cleared off the line, then a brave diving goalkeeper blocked Foster’s attempt.
On 81 minutes, the best chance fell for McKenzie following another cross from the impressive Olley.
Running towards goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, she slipped at the crucial time - the ball going harmlessly out for a throw-in.
Another chance followed from a corner from the right which led to a mad scramble.
The loose ball rolled along the goaline without a touch before right-back Brooke Cochrane found herself in an unusual position.
From the left-hand side of the sixyard box, the captain shot from the acute angle, the goalkeeper spilling the ball but jumping down on it before Lyons could pounce.
Newcastle United are back in league action on Sunday, playing hosts to last season’s North East Women’s League Premier Division champions Barnsley.