Lady Mags’ display not so Wander-ful
FA WOMEN’S PREMIER LG NORTHERN DIVISION ONE
LESS than 48 hours after lifting the Northumberland County Cup, the Lady Mags suffered a 3-2 home defeat against a young Bolton Wanderers side.
The visitors fielded six teenagers, two of them only 16, with one making her debut.
With only five minutes gone, Newcastle fell behind when Ruby Howard netted.
Steph Ord went closest to a firsthalf equaliser with a free-kick but, within two minutes of the restart, Bolton doubled their advantage when Emma Pilling found the target.
Newcastle battled on, Megan McKenzie going close before Ord halved the deficit 20 minutes from time.
However, four minutes later, the visitors restored their two-goal cushion when the prolific Safron Newhouse struck her 16th goal in 19 matches.
Again, Newcastle fought back quickly as McKenzie netted 10 minutes from time.
The Lady Mags continued to search for the elusive equaliser, denied in the last minute as Ord’s free kick rebounded off the bar.
United play their final home match tonight against Chorley before ending the season at relegated Barnsley on Sunday. Chester-le-Street Town welcome Liverpool MF for their concluding match.
In last weekend’s Northumberland County FA Women’s Cup Final, a brace by Jess Foster earned Newcastle United a comfortable 2-0 victory against their own development side.
Only four minutes had gone by when Foster opened the scoring.
Nicole Dack shot narrowly wide before two Ord free kicks nearly doubled the lead as the first team dominated.
Foster wasted a golden opportunity shortly before the interval. Capitalising on a defensive error, she ran forward – but her effort hit the bar.
It was a similar story in the second period, goalkeeper Michaela Raine denying Kate Brooks, while a long-range effort by Foster went wide.
However, Foster did score her second seven minutes into the second half, diving in to head home a cross to give the first team a twogoal cushion.
The first team had a penalty appeal waved away after a handball in the box, before Dack again went close, as did Rebecca Olley, Megan McKenzie and Rhiannon Gray, before the development side saw Imogen Longcake’s effort saved by Grace Donnelly.
An acrobatic effort by Ord was saved by Raine before the full-time whistle blew.
DURHAM Cestria won the North East Regional Women’s League Cup final, beating Norton 2-0.
The Cestrians enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half, nearly taking an early lead before Nyci Thorns had a goal ruled offside.
Both sides created chances before the deadlock was broken five minutes before the break, Molly Holder tapping into an empty net after goalkeeper Rachel Chisnall failed to hold her initial shot.
The second half saw a more physical Norton press hard for an equaliser – but the Durham defence stood resolute.
And, 15 minutes from time, there was a big chance for the Cestrians to double their lead when Chisnall received a straight red card.
Racing off her line, she brought down Jenny Bitzer, who had rounded the goalkeeper.
Durham could not make the resulting free kick count but did not have long to wait before sealing the match.
A handball by Elizabeth Rodger inside the box five minutes later led to a penalty being awarded, Caroline Dixon confidently despatching the spot kick past stand-in shotstopper Chelsea Bell.
ONE match in the Premier Division saw Wallsend BCL concede five goals in the last five minutes as they lost 8-1 at home against Farsley Celtic.
Samantha Deverdics had earlier scored for hosts as they trailed 3-1 before tiring at the end.
The title should be sorted next week as Norton have a home midweek match against York City.
Victory would leave them requiring only a point at Hartlepool United on Sunday week to become champions.