Howay the lasses!
NEWCASTLE WOMEN WIN BACK-TO-BACK LEAGUE TITLES AFTER 10-O THRASHING
THERE was a carnival atmosphere at Kingston Park as Newcastle United Women secured promotion to the Women’s Championship in front of a 7,382-strong home crowd – a record for any sport played at the venue this year.
The Lasses beat Huddersfield Town 10-0 to be crowned champions in emphatic style, meaning they have won back-to-back league titles and the challenge of the second tier of women’s football awaits next season.
The energy and anticipation was building two hours before kick-off with fans gathering en masse to mark the historic occasion.
Becky Langley’s starting line-up promised much – January signings Paige Bailey-Gayle, Beth Lumsden and Lia Cataldo started alongside regulars Katie Barker, Charlotte Potts and Hannah Greenwood with Amber-Keegan Stobbs captaining the side.
The home side enjoyed a dream start just seconds after kick-off as Barker delivered a cross into the box and Emma Kelly met with an excellent diving header to give the Mags the lead. Promotion seemed tantalisingly close from the off.
The lasses enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession and Lumsden and Keegan-Stobbs’ overlapping runs down the right wing consistently posed significant threats to the Huddersfield defence.
The home support had reason to cheer in the 17th minute as Lumsden slotted an excellent effort from just inside the box into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. Four minutes later, Kelly sent a looping effort from 25 yards out into the top corner: promotion seemed all but assured.
The lasses always looked like scoring again – Lumsden ran into the box with an impressive bit of skill in the 34th minute but her shot was blocked by the keeper.
Huddersfield looked totally unable to deal with the dynamism of NUWFC’s play and, in the closing stages of the first half, Barker’s effort from close-range was ruled offside and she struck the post moments later.
Finally, Barker headed the ball home in the 44th minute to make the score 4-0: the team certainly deserved more than this formidable lead at the end of the first half.
As expected, NUWFC looked lively from the beginning of the second half with Kelly sending a low cross flashing in front of the goal mouth in the opening minutes, but BaileyGayle was unable to find the finish.
Just before the 50th minute,
Barker scored her second goal of the match, a stunning, well-placed effort which she smashed into the right-hand side of the net. Lumsden emphatically achieved her brace four minutes later, making the score 6-0 as the home crowd humorously belted out a few choruses of “Football’s Coming Home” in triumphant response. BaileyGayle and Greenwood made way for fan-favourite Galloway and McQuade in the 59th minute. The lasses continued to press forward and Barker, in hot pursuit of her hat-trick, skilfully hit the ball on the volley only to be caught by the keeper.
Elson replaced Barker in the 66th minute but her brace was typical of the excellent performances she has put in this season.
The pick of the goals came from super-sub McQuade – and her sensational strike in the 73rd minute was the Magpies’ seventh of the day.
Moments later, McQuade was denied by the keeper’s fingertips and the resultant corner produced a goal mouth scramble and Charlotte Potts bundled the eighth goal of the game over the line.
In the final 10 minutes, subs Kacie Elson and Jess Gibson scored in the 82nd and 90th minute respectively to make it 10.
Captain Stobbs put in a stellar performance, frequently marauding forward from the midfield and giving the Huddersfield defence something to worry about. The lasses never once looked complacent; even after 5-0, they pressed relentlessly and played an outstanding level of football.
To the fans’ delight, the FA presented Newcastle Women with the Northern League trophy at the end of the game as co-owner Amanda Staveley joined in with the on-pitch celebrations.
Newcastle have still got away games at Halifax and West Brom to play but the job has already been done.