It wasn't all gloom on Wednesday night as the Lasses pulled off their best result of the season to start bearing down on automatic promotion
NUWFC v BCWFC - 18/3/26 Barclays Women’s Super League 2
Venue: GIS
Att: Not disclosed
PoTM: Kelly
After a frustrating match against Sheffield United for all concerned (see previous report), our game in hand was against Birmingham City who were second before kick-off (the Lasses were fifth) occupying the second automatic promotion spot. In the reverse fixture the Lasses went down 4-2, so not only was a positive result important for the league position, they would want to make up for that poor performance at St Andrews.
Another team in black & white were playing at the same time as the Lasses; the Not Lasses in the knock-out stages of the Champions League. In the pub beforehand fans had their phones and tablets out watching that game, dreaming of the time when there are two Newcastle teams competing regularly in that competition. No more mention of that other match from me…
Mannion, Kelly and Hayles had all played for the Blues before. None of the opposition players have worn the black & white.
By the fourth minute Kelly had already won the ball back in dangerous positions and using it intelligently, set up attacks by the Lasses. This was her second start in a row, a major achievement in a season blighted by a serious hamstring injury. Her defensive midfield role hadn’t been adequately filled, with Nobbs having to play deeper and the team losing her attacking ability to an extent.
Birmingham were having a lot of the ball, probing down both wings as well as sending long balls over the top. These were being dealt with by Cooper who herself was starting following a long lay-off and her aerial ability and raking cross-field passes had been missing from the team. The game was being played at a fast pace and great link-up play between Wardlaw, Murphy and Nobbs nearly brought a positive result on 12’. At 15’ Newcastle were two on one, but Larsson just delayed her through ball and the chance went begging. Another top Kelly tackle occurred, and the ‘Kelly de Bruyne’ song got its first airing of the night, proudly led by her Dad.
In the first instance of several players getting a ball full in the face, Gregory crumpled in a heap. A few minutes later she worryingly dropped to the grass again, but she was determined to carry on. These incidents do raise the question of the consequences of concussion in the sport. Perhaps football should look at Ruby Union which allows ‘concussion subs’ whilst a player is getting an off-field head injury assessment?
On 29’ this time a Blues player got a ball in the face and exited the pitch with a bust nose and dressings in both nostrils! Murphy was here there and everywhere, displaying terrier like tenacity and but for a miscontrol of the ball would have been in on goal on 34’. Her ‘engine’ is phenomenal and she must be a nightmare to play against. Kelly was herself snapping at the heels of the Blues players and not letting them settle on the ball.
A minute later Tamminem pulled off a fingertip save at full stretch from Crosthwaite - a former Durham player. I was right behind the ball’s flight, and it was destined for the bottom corner; great save from the ‘Finnish Wall’. Her song was belted out by the crowd and deservedly so.
More high balls into the box from the Blues were dealt with adroitly by Cooper who with Mannion were dealing with the threat comfortably. Mannion is one of those players that often doesn’t get the plaudits yet is invaluable to the team’s efforts.
On 43’ the deadlock was broken; starting with a trademark tackle that won the ball by Kelly, she fed it to Gregory on the left who set up Larsson, to Murphy, to Pike who played a one-two with Nobbs who from 25 yards smacked the ball over their keeper and into the top corner of the net. A brilliant team goal. The ‘Jordan Nobbs-do-do-do-do’ song got the crowd and Joel and Charley in the posh seats up and bopping. The Lasses had taken a deserved lead and ended the half one goal to the good.
The second half started again with Kelly putting in a great tackle and the Lasses were on the front foot from the off. On 55’ in what was a brilliant move, Larsson won the ball deep in Newcastle’s half and advanced at pace up the pitch, she released Murphy into the box whose shot was superbly blocked by the Birmingham player who’d tracked her all the way. The resulting corner saw Mannion’s header clawed away by Birmingham’s keeper, Franch, who prevented a certain goal. Murphy put a header just wide moments later and the first Newcastle substitution of the match brought Lumsden on for Larsson.
With practically her first touch since coming on, Lumsden scored Newcastle’s second of the game. Gregory fed Murphy whose beautifully weighted chip forward saw Lumsden running into the box, with the keeper charging out at her she had the calmness and presence of mind to lob the ball over Franch and into an empty net. It was just what the Lasses deserved having been more positive in the second half and taken the game to the opposition.
Kelly ‘de Bruyne’ nearly got the goal her performance deserved on 70’, Murphy fed the ball to her and from 25 yards the ball was arrowing towards the bottom corner until it was turned round the post. Just after the following corner Kelly was replaced by Gautrat (who also has had terribly luck with injuries) and Cooper by Stokes; Kelly and Cooper are building up their match fitness and it’s no shame to be replaced by a two-times world cup and Euros winners respectively. These injuries have been the story of the Lasses season and have played their part in them not being higher up the table.
Birmingham brought on a host of subs to try and get something from the game, their #29 Louis was a real handful when she came on. Gautrat, you could see, was looking everywhere, reading the game and directing her team-mates. With the experience of her, Nobbs and Stokes, Newcastle aimed to hold on for the win. The number of subs the Blues made seemed to unsettle them and the game turned scrappy, which suited the Lasses with a two-goal advantage.
The last subs brought Grec for Gregory and Hayles for Nobbs. Grec moved into a now back five with four in midfield and Hayles up top. This was Grec’s first appearance this year and she slotted in seamlessly bringing height to the defence. This change in formation was notable as the Lasses under Oxtoby (manager of the month for February) seem more adaptable formation wise and are showing more game management skills.
This was notable after an 88’ free kick was awarded and Lumsden took the ball to the corner flag to use up time. The ‘dark arts’ have always been used against the Lasses so it’s good to see them using this part of the game too. Six minutes of extra time brought a series of corners from the Blues to no avail, and a victory, three precious points and a clean sheet were the Lasses rewards.
High fives, hugs and the Lasses “aal wi’ smilin’ faces” marked a significant victory that moved them up to fourth, two points off second and an automatic promotion place. On a parochial level the result from the mackem match (the other WSL2 match being played) brought cheers from the fans, with former Magpie Andrews equalising for Sheffield United with a 90’+9’ penalty.
Kelly takes the PoTM award for the second game in a row. With her and Gautrat back (it’s a shame that Boddy is still injured) the defensive midfield position is well covered and it’s something that the team has needed. Mention in Despatches go to Mannion, Murphy and Cooper.
The WSL2 table is getting interesting at the business end of the season. Charlton are miles (nine points) clear at the top, but the Lasses now in fourth are only two points off second place. At the bottom one point separates the bottom four teams, with Durham in real danger as their form has dropped off a cliff.
A debate amongst Lasses fans is whether it’s best to go up this season or consolidate and go for promotion next. Either way there will need to be a shake-up of the squad and some fans’ favourites are destined to leave. The game coming up next against Crystal Palace, in third, is a classic ‘six-pointer’. If the Lasses get anything from that then they’re really in with a chance of promotion spot. Following that is the derby with the mackems at their place.
So keep on, keeping on and -
Howay the Lasses!
Mark Stutt