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Tough afternoon for Town Women as Newcastle run out 4-1 winners

The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute as Shania Hayles scored with the deftest of touches from a cross.

Hayles got her second of the game just five minutes into the second half from close range.

Kyra Robertson got one back just minutes later after the ball was deemed to have crossed the line following a free-kick.

Molly Pike made it three for Newcastle on the hour mark with a well-struck volley into the far corner.

Emily Murphy wrapped up the points just minutes before the end with a header at the back post.

Maddy Earl battling for the ball _(Image: Ross Halls)_

**Team news**

Town Women manager Joe Sheehan made a number of changes to the Town starting eleven that lost their last league game against Birmingham City 4-0.

Leah Mitchell returned to her natural position of right-back alongside Maria Boswell, Paige Peake and Summer Hughes, who all keep their position.

Robertson was alongside Charlotte Fleming, who starts her first league game in months, and Sophie Peskett, Jenna Dear, Maddy Earl and Rianna Dean make up the front four.

Grace Neville and Natasha Thomas both on the bench after being away on international duty with New Zealand and Jamaica, respectively, the latter scoring her first international goal against Trinidad and Tobago.

In Newcastle's side, they had former England internationals Jordan Nobbs and Demi Stokes, who was part of the team that won the Women's Euro's in 2022, in their starting eleven.

**Town XI**: Negri, Mitchell (Neville,58), Boswell (C), Peake, Hughes (Seaby,83), Robertson (Doe,58), Fleming (Wearing,70), Peskett, Dear, Earl (Thomas,58), Dean

**Newcastle XI**: Liefting, Wardlaw, Stokes (C) (Purfield,92), Nobbs, Boddy (Murphy,63), Hayles (Kelly,82), Pike (McQuade,92), Gregory (Lumsden,82), Cooper, Sevenius, Mannion

Sophie Peskett on the ball for Town _(Image: Ross Halls)_

**Even start**

The opening 15 minutes were a very even affair. Both team saw a lot of the ball, but neither created many chances.

Ipswich had the first chance of the game in the 13th minute as Peake played a great ball over the top to Peskett who beat Stokes for pace and delivered a low cross into the area but Dean couldn't get there before the Newcastle defence.

The Magpies then had an attack straight after with Oona Sevenius cutting inside to have a shot but it was well defended by the Town back line.

Earl proved a handful for Charlotte Wardlaw who committed a number of fouls on the Arsenal loanee. In the 19th minute, Earl turned her marker with ease before trying to find a blue shirt in the area, but Newcastle defended their lines well.

Newcastle celebrating after their first goal _(Image: Ross Halls)_

**Conceding before the break**

Throughout the half, both sides were seeing lots of the ball and trying to make chances happen.

Newcastle almost took the lead in the 33rd minute but Natalia Negri did brilliantly to deny Sevenius, getting a strong hand to a shot from the left and did better to get the ball away from danger.

Negri again did well to deny Greya Gregory this time from the right. A quick counterattack from Newcastle saw Gregory through on goal, but the newly capped England U23 international denied the winger.

In the 40th minute, the deadlock was broken after Earl gave the ball away in the middle and Hayles picked the ball up in the centre circle before laying it off to Gregory, whose cross came back into the middle and got the deftest of touches from Hayles into the far corner.

Kyra Robertson scored for Town in the 53rd minute. _(Image: Ross Halls)_

**Under the cosh**

Newcastle came out the blocks the far better side in the second half, hungry for that second goal.

They got the second in the 50th minute as Molly Pike controlled the ball brilliantly with the outside of her foot on the run before making her way into the area and delivering a low cross which rebounded into the path of Hayles, who tucked the ball away from five yards.

Town did get one back in the 53rd minute after a free kick from Peake was fumbled by Newcastle keeper Lieftin, and Robertson lifted the ball over the defenders, and the ball had crossed the line before being cleared.

Newcastle made it 3-1 in the 60th minute as the ball was delivered into the area, and an unmarked pike at the back-post struck the ball brilliantly into the far corner.

The Magpies extended their lead after Beth Lumsden delivered a deep cross into the area, and Murphy headed the ball into the back of the net in the 91st minute.

Ruby Doe on the ball for Town _(Image: Ross Halls)_

**Tough afternoon**

After a positive start and first half, it never really looked like Town were going to score again after their goal.

Newcastle controlled the game well and defended in numbers whenever Town advanced forward.

This result leaves the Tractor Girls bottom of the WSL2 on goal difference. Their next game is away to fourth-place Bristol City.

**Attendance**: 1,396

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