Barclays Women’s Super League 2 - 4/10/25
Venue: Maiden Castle, Durham, Att: 1,211
PoTM: Lumsden
Due to a work-related conference (in Sherwood Forest with fires and woodland workshops, twas canny!) I missed the home game v Leicester City which was, typically, the best home performance so far this season, as we beat the team relegated from the WSL1 4-0 with goals from Wardlaw, a brace from Thomas, and rounded off by Mannion’s first goal for the Lasses
The result left the Lasses still top of the league (cue the chant) and looking good before the international break, which saw 15 NUWFC players called up, a sign of how the squad is progressing.
Onto the match against the Wildcats at Durham University’s sports ground, Maiden Castle. The 3G pitch was a reminder that, although there were a lot of complaints about the move from Kingston Park, the artificial surface there was not suitable for this level of competition. Tanya Oxtoby in the post-match comments was diplomatically scathing on the playing surface.
The venue and indeed the opposition have not brought a lot of joy to the Lasses or their fans, and many Mags fans really don’t like playing Durham because of the above and the less than friendly reception from their fans. Reading the report from last season (see here), the 1-1 draw was the Lasses’ first point against Durham, the scorer of their goal, none other than Molly Lambert, our nemesis who now fortunately wears black & white (or lilac today). PoTM then was Boddy who hasn’t featured at all this season, and we assume is still injured. So, with current form, an air of optimism was taken to Durham that the ‘WooDoo’ (it’d take too long to explain!) would come to an end.
A short train journey with Paul and Kerry saw us fortified by breakfast pints for the lovely walk amidst the Autumn colours of the riverbank. The Lasses lined up with Tamminen in goal; McLauchlan (C) returning to the defence with Mannion, Purfield and Torpey; Bradley, Antonsdóttir, Lumsden and Lambert in midfield and Nobbs and Thomas up front.
The first 15-20 minutes were a scrappy affair with neither team dominating; the gusty wind and pitch not being conducive to flowing football, but the Lasses kept on keeping on. Lumsden in particular, was giving their full-back Briggs a torrid time and with a lovely shot cutting in from the left wing, hit the crossbar. Lambert was being closely marked on her return to Maiden Castle. They were often doubling up on her and Thomas was receiving the ‘attention’ of Durham’s #5 Wilson; an excellent run and shot from Lambert only found the side netting on 29’.
Former Mag and captain Amber-Keegan Stobbs (the Keegan part of her name missing from the programme, I wonder why?) was trying to keep tabs on Nobbs the wearer of her old shirt number - 4.
Just after Lumsden again had a shot blocked, a looping corner taken by Purfield saw the Durham keeper, Sheppard, attempt to punch the ball clear. Instead it ricocheted off the crossbar into the huddle of bodies and Antonsdóttir (who’s daughter?) volleyed it hard and high into the roof of the net. Cue celebrations from the Mags fans who were stationed all around the pitch. The goal was at the opposite end from where I was standing and I couldn’t initially make out who’d scored. The subs were warming up right in front of us and it was actually Leanne Kiernan our #33, who confirmed the scorer to us, thanks Leanne!
Chants of ‘We are top of the league’ and the ‘going down, going up’ song were belted out by those of a black & white persuasion, the supporters in blue, silent. A feature of the first half was an absence of footballs when one was cleared for a throw in and some ‘discussion’ with the ref about the condition of the balls being used. How a team at this level can’t supply sufficient, correctly inflated balls is beyond belief.
Three minutes of extra time came and went, and the half ended with the Lasses a goal to the good and deservedly so, after they’d got used to the conditions and imposed their quality. There were no substitutions at half-time and the Lasses were now kicking towards the end where I was standing.
In the first ten minutes of the second-half I noted: “Lambert shot blocked in the box, Lumsden in the box and shot blocked, Torpey shot blocked and Lambert through again and her shot saved”. The Lasses were meaning business.
On 60’ Durham’s best chance of the game occurred with a long ball into the box hit first time, forcing Tamminen at full stretch to get down low and push it round the far post. Five minutes after this a long clearance from the ‘Finnish wall’ was headed back toward her own goal by a Durham defender; Thomas nipped in to steal the ball and belt it at their keeper who could only parry it out to Nobbs on the edge of the box; Nobbs was allowed time and space to settle herself and send the ball high over Sheppard’s outstretched hand to make it 0-2, her first goal of the season.
At this point I gave up noting free kicks as they were coming thick and fast. A post-match interview with Hildur (Antonsdóttir) said she liked getting involved in the hard ‘dirty’ work of a game and this bite in midfield is what the Lasses were lacking last season. Her and Bradley are forming a formidable partnership in the midfield. So, the Lasses were giving as good as they got. Tamminen was fouled three times in succession, Durham’s frustration getting the better of them perhaps.
On 81’ Lumsden squared the ball for the on-rushing Thomas, but she slightly over-ran the ball and lost it behind herself, or it would have been a tap in. Just after this Joel came on for Antonsdóttir, McGovern having replaced Lambert on 65’, marking Joel’s 50th appearance for the Mags.
The game was put to bed on 87’ when Lumsden, who else, squared from the left wing and Thomas this time tapped it in for her fifth goal in three games. Thomas deserved it for her selfless running and keeping the opposition’s defence on their toes. Lumsden had another brilliant game, she’s in the best form of her Newcastle career to date and with her being equally good with both feet, it must be a nightmare marking her as she can cross from out wide or cut in on her other foot.
Jessie Gale, who’d just returned from appearing in the U20s World Cup with England, came on for Thomas for the last five minutes of the match and had a shot well saved. The final whistle brought a sense of satisfaction to the Lasses fans with a first victory over the Wildcats and a hope that they won’t have to visit Maiden Castle again (hopefully with Newcastle’s promotion rather than Durham’s relegation, as it would be bad news for women’s football in the NE to lose a professional club).
Player of the Match for me came down to either Nobbs or Lumsden and the #26 just shaded it. Mention in dispatches for Antonsdóttir, Torpey and Tamminen who didn’t have a lot to do, but what she did, she did well.
A short international break follows this match with our International Lasses hoping to help their countries qualify for the Women’s World Cup 2027 to be played in Brazil. Straight after, the Lasses take on the mackems for the first real derby of the season in the Subway Players Cup (or league cup as it used to be known) on Sunday 18th October at the GIS. The Lasses have already played WSL1 team Aston Villa away with a team featuring nine changes losing 1-3, Sevenius scoring her first goal of the season.
The league is the total focus of this team, and the league cup gives the fringe players and U21s a chance to get some minutes under their belts. The next league game is away at Forest on 25 October (there’s a supporter’s bus on if you’re interested).
So, if you fancy watching a competitive, skilful game, with players in black & white (or dark blue or lilac!) giving their all, get yourselves along and of course join in the chants of –
Howay the Lasses!
Mark Stutt