After an excellent first pre-season away win at Milton Keynes of the FA Women’s Southern Premier League on the Sunday, The Lady Mags were back on the road for their second friendly of the season.
This time it was more local as Becky Langley’s team travelled down the A19 to take on Norton Ladies of the FA Women’s League Division One North. A side that NUFC had done the double over last season on their way to the title and promotion.
Langley shuffled her pack for the game with several who had been involved on Sunday at MK Dons either rested or injured. Indeed some of those not in the squad had been left back in Newcastle for a training session as The Lady Mags ramp their pre-season up.
There was a debut for ex-Sunderland winger Tyler Dodds on the right and Langley also gave teenager Becky Ferguson the chance to show her potential and lead the line in attack. Sharna Wilkinson another to get a start after some time out of the first-team scene.
Also debuting but from the sidelines was the newest addition to the Lady Mags coaching staff, Andy Cook, who had been announced earlier in the day.
Cook has joined as first team coach and is no stranger to the FA Women’s National League Premier Division, having guided Nottingham Forest Women to the title last season.
As his ‘boss’ Langley was delighted to have acquired the services of Cook, an appointment that is seen as quite a coup for NUFC Women.
Langley said: “I have known Andy for many years and I am delighted he is joining us ahead of the season. He is an experienced coach who knows this level well, and we will only benefit from his know-how and support.
As regards the game itself it was a totally dominant performance from The Lady Mags that only lacked a finishing product. The final score line of a 1 – 0 away win was the very least United deserved and it could have been so much more,
Before the winner, which came late on 75 minutes, they hit the woodwork on no fewer than four occasions. Debutant Dodds a really pacy right winger that caught the eye twice denied by the post of a debut goal.
Olivia Watt and Becky Ferguson also finding the frame of the goal stopping them from opening their account for the season whilst both Ferguson and the impressive Wilkinson, who made a fine return to the side, were denied by fine saves from the Norton keeper.
The winning goal was a beauty. Charlotte Potts started the attack with a nice scooped pass wide to Dodds. The winger swung a cross to the back post and second-half substitute Anna Soulsby rose high to head back across goal and into the opposite corner.
No more than United deserved in what was perhaps one of the most comfortable 1 – 0 wins you’re ever likely to see although the hosts should be commended for a battling defensive effort that almost got them an unexpected result.
So, two from two and next up for Langley’s side is a trip to Hibernian of the Scottish Women’s Premier League on Sunday 30th July with a 16:00pm kick-off at Meadowbank Stadium for what should be a tough testing game as pre-season continues.
