McKenzie’s at the double in a Lady Mags fightback
A SECOND-HALF brace by Megan McKenzie completed Newcastle United’s comeback against Barnsley and secured a 3-2 victory.
Last season’s NERWFL Premier Division champions Barnsley took a 2-0 lead midway through the first half - Rebecca Fevers and Drew Greene scoring within three minutes of each other.
Winger Jess Foster was denied by a good save by the visiting goalkeeper but was beaten when Steph Ord scored a crucial goal before the break, sliding in to convert Foster’s cross.
Newcastle searched for the equaliser, Foster shooting narrowly over while Ord was denied by the fingertips of the goalkeeper.
She pushed the shot around the post and Ord also saw an effort rebound off the bar.
The Lady Mags’ dominance and constant pressure was finally rewarded after 71 minutes when Victoria Curtis found Rebecca Olley in space and she accurately crossed for McKenzie to fire home the equaliser.
Six minutes afterwards United took the lead, Foster and Olley combining to set up McKenzie for her second.
The remaining time was safely played out as Newcastle secured back-to-back victories in the league for the first time this season The Lady Mags move a point - and two places - above Chester-le-Street Town near the bottom.
They travel to face second-bottom Leeds United on Sunday.
Town’s battle to avoid slipping into the NERWFL suffered a blow with a 2-1 defeat by Crewe Alexandra.
The Durham side took a seventh-minute lead when a ball across the box was turned in by striker Nichole Havery.
The scores were level 15 minutes later when Amanda Fallon took advantage of a poor clearance, firing into the top left corner.
The visitors scored what proved the winner three minutes before the interval, a good run by Laura Garner ending with her unleashing a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
The second period lacked clear-cut chances for both sides, the result leaving Town third bottom - four points off the drop zone.