Another day, another game, another venue, another win. NUFC Women made it four from four in pre-season with an emphatic and dominating 3 – 0 win over fellow Northern Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion at St. James’ Park yesterday.
Coming hot on the heels of the senior men’s side’s 2 – 0 win over Fiorentina it completed an excellent afternoon for a football club making great strides right across all aspects of the Club.
We’re learning quickly that Becky Langley’s side mean business this season. They’re not just looking for consolidation in the Northern Premier League, they’re looking for back-to-back promotions and have the confidence in themselves to believe in their goal.
Saturday’s performance was yet another statement of intent. From back to front and through a very impressive middle they really looked the part and in the end the only slight disappointment for Langley was a first-half performance that lacked a bit of sparkle.
Langley want her side to entertain as well as win and in a tight first half her side didn’t really hit their straps in the way she would have liked. That said they did lead at the break with a goal from new Centre Forward Bridget Galloway.
It came on 42 minutes when Tyler Dodd’s right-wing cross was knocked back across goal at the far post by Anna Soulsby and Galloway, like all good strikers, was in the right place at the right time to smash it home from close range.
Galloway was denied a double in the second half by a dubious flag for offside by the Assistant but there’s no denying she is a real goal threat as she’s now bagged three in The Lasses four games and looks a real handful whenever United pour forward.
And pour forward they did on many occasions. Amber-Keegan Stobbs and Emma Kelly driving them on from midfield with Elysia Boddy and Hannah Greenwood also putting in excellent shifts and covering every inch of the hallowed St. James turf.
At the back Charlotte Potts was again in imperious form and was equally well supported and joined by fellow defenders Jodie Bartle and Olivia Watt. The three between them combining along with Niaomi Bedeau who replaced Bartle early in the second half to not allow WBA a meaningful strike on goal throughout the 90 minutes.
It meant an easy afternoon for Hannah Reid who started and captained the United side from the goal keeping position and even when Club Captain Grace Donnelly came on to replace Reid the situation never changed..
Langley made nine changes in all with all her fit and available players getting some meaningful minutes and indeed two of the substitutes getting on the scoresheet in the last ten minutes to fully emphasise United’s superiority on the day.
Remember too this WBA are an experienced Northern Premier League side and indeed beat Newcastle in pre-season last year before going on to have a comfortable season in the division that The Lady Mags will grace this coming season.
The second United goal came on 81 minutes and really showed the strength of their squad this season. Substitute Jas McQuade who has made the step up to first team duties after captaining the successful Development squad creating the goal.
Her driving run and excellent footwork put fellow substitute Becky Ferguson and the young striker who only turned 18 this week gave herself a perfect birthday present with a smooth controlled finish across a helpless WBA keeper.
The third goal arrived on 85 minutes and once again it was a substitute Cara Milne-Redhead who netted. This, Milne-Redhead’s first goal for the Black and Whites. She intercepted a poorly taken visiting goal kick to calmly roll the ball home from 14 yards.
With Galloway’s disallowed goal and Ferguson also hitting the post it could have been more as United once again looked impressive going forward. They also were rock solid at the back and creative and dominant in possession in midfield throughout.
Langley has not hidden her charges in pre-season and wins at MK Dons, Norton, Hibernian and now against WBA have all shown she may have a real nightmare when it comes to selecting a team for the first league game of the season. A nightmare she’s looking forward to.
Next up in pre-season for United is THE BIG ONE. Derby day at Eppleton CW when The Lady Mags take on Championship Sunderland’s Black Cats on Wednesday night.
Their toughest test yet and one that will really give Langley and her coaches an idea of exactly where there strong looking squad are before the exciting season ahead.
