A big week for the lasses as they sought to build on a fantastic result at Birmingham. Mark reports from the GIS
NUWFC v CPWFC - 22/3/26 Barclays Women’s Super League 2
Venue: GIS
Att: 1,997
PoTM: Tamminem
The third match in a week brought a second home game and pitted the Lasses against Crystal Palace who were third before the kick-off with Newcastle in fourth. With four games left (after this one) and Charlton well clear at the top, it’s a four-way fight between Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Bristol City and Newcastle United for the one remaining automatic promotion spot and the play-off place (against the bottom WSL side, which is looking like it’s going to be Leicester).
Another match day shared with the Not Lasses, however, this time there was a decent gap between kick-offs, so ST holders of both could watch both teams in Black & White. No more mention of the other game…
Palace were relegated to WSL2 last season and struggled with adjusting to their new league, but they have hit a good run of form lately, as have the Lasses, second (with 10 points) and first (with 11) in the form table respectively over the last five games. In the reverse fixture Palace were leading 2-0 in the 87’, then a strike from Sevenius and Gautrat’s goal direct from a corner saved a point for the Mags. So, the two top form teams going head-to-head, it’s bound to be a good match, right?
The Lasses lined up with Tamminem in goal; Purfield, Cooper, Mannion and Wardlaw in defence; Kelly, Gregory (although she was dropping back often), Pike and Nobbs in midfield; Lumsden and Murphy up front. The formation played by the Lasses was flexible and changed as the match went on. The ability for them to do this is a significant improvement on earlier in the season.
Well, in answer to my previous question, not quite. Confidence was high in the team after the great result against Birmingham; indeed, Stokes was belting out the Blaydon Races as she walked onto the pitch. However, both teams started quite cagily with probing runs being repulsed by both defences. Gregory’s excellent run in the 9th minute was let down by a cross that was too high for Murphy to connect with. Palace were adept at playing the off-side line and the game descended into a midfield morass with nothing decisive from either team.
Newcastle began to sit very deep, inviting Palace onto them and on 24’ and 25’ Kelly and Wardlaw helped their team out with excellent defensive work, the latter pinching the ball of her opponent’s toes in the box. Nobbs was having a quieter game than usual, thanks to her markers doubling up on her which restricted Newcastle’s attacking impetus. Nobbs’ importance had obviously been picked up in scouting research by the opposition - Ladd was putting in a shift for Palace against her.
With Kelly patrolling midfield and Murphy buzzing around up top as usual, Newcastle were stymieing Palace’s attacks. However, this was at the expense of clear-cut chances of their own. Tamminem was being very vocal and setting up her defence well. For the last ten minutes of the half Newcastle began to threaten Palace, much to their frustration and so much so that two yellow cards were brandished at Larkin and Everett for throwing the ball away and a foul on Murphy respectively.
With the Lasses’ Australian defender Torpey away with Australia for the final of the Asian Women’s Cup the day before (sadly they lost 0-1 to Japan) chants of ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ and ‘Tanya Oxtoby’s black & white army’ were given an airing – the Lasses’ manager of course being Australian. After one minute of extra time the ref blew for half-time with the game balanced at 0-0, with neither team having a shot on target.
The second half started with Newcastle on the attack and Nobbs showing superb ball control to beat two players. Oxtoby made her first substitution on 53’ with Gautrat coming on for Pike who has been playing a deeper role of late then fans expected, as she was an out-and-out striker when she was signed. Murphy and Lumsden were partnered in attack with Nobbs behind them.
On 58’ Palace’s #3 Napier brought Tamminem into the game and forced her into a finger tip save to touch the ball over the bar. On 60’ Kelly went down off the ball (hopefully nothing serious) and was swiftly subbed for Joel, and Lumsden was replaced by Hayles at the same time. The aforementioned Napier was the third Palace player booked soon after for a cynical foul.
Hayles is a bit of a conundrum for the Lasses’ fans; last season she was joint top scorer in the league, and everyone expected her to carry on in that vein. However she has only two league goals to her credit so far and hasn’t started a game for a long time. Her pace is great but it appears that she’s reluctant to use it. Whether that’s what she’s being asked to do or there’s another reason, no one knows. I’m reluctant to criticise without substance, so let’s say the jury is out.
Neither team were producing anything of quality in the final third; however, on 73’ a fantastic cross by Wardlaw, who was dealing with Palace’s Weerden well, was headed just past the post by Murphy. Palace were gaining more possession around this time, coinciding with Kelly’s departure and began to turn the screw. Just after Murphy’s chance Tamminem pulled off a fantastic double save, first tipping a dangerous shot by Larkin away and then reacting superbly, getting back to her feet to parry a fierce shot by Howat.
All of the Lasses defenders were standing tall, Mannion’s positional sense, calmness and experience is helping forge a great partnership with Cooper who deals with the high balls and can ping an inch perfect pass forward as well. Purfield hasn’t put a foot wrong since coming into the defence and as brilliant as Tamminen’s (‘Waka waka ay ay!) save was, Mannion and Cooper were behind her ready to block the shot on the line. The Lasses’ defence has tightened up considerably since Oxtoby took charge.
On 82’ a second quick corner from Newcastle saw Nobbs chip just over the bar. However a quick break by Palace threatened a goal but Mannion, again, was perfectly positioned to clear the ball. The last minute of normal time saw Sevenius on for Murphy who again had ran herself into the ground. I’d like to see Sevenius (Wor Oona, who has become a firm fan favourite) given a run in her favoured position as a centre forward rather than being out on the wing. The four minutes of extra time saw a Newcastle free kick on the corner of the box result in Sevenius’ header being saved by Palace’s American keeper Yanez and the game ended in a stalemate.
So, the third game in a week saw the Lasses take five points from a possible nine and two clean sheets. An automatic promotion place may almost be beyond reach but third is still very much obtainable. Saying that, this league is full of unpredictable results with teams taking and losing unexpected points, Sheffield away being a case in point.
There’s the small matter of the final derby of the season (if you don’t count the games against Durham that is) away at the dark place. Last season the Lasses did the double over their namesakes and this season saw a 3-1 win at home at SJP with the Finnish Wall saving a pen on her debut. Here’s hoping for a similar result.
Player of the Match is a no-brainer – Tamminem, although any of the four lasses in front of her will rightly get a Mention in Despatches.
As always keep on keeping on and –
Howay the Lasses!
Mark Stutt