It was billed as NUFC Women’s toughest test in pre-season and so it proved. After producing four excellent wins in their tune-up friendlies, they finally fell at the fifth hurdle against Sunderland’s Black Cats.
Our Derby rivals of course play in The Championship a league above the division that newly promoted Mags are yet to start playing in, so it was always expected to be the toughest test so far.
It was though a test that Becky Langley had wanted to see how far her newly formed squad had come in their short time together and perhaps even more importantly, how far they still have to go.
In front of a packed Eppleton CW stadium, showing the appetite for the Women’s game in the region and the interest in the Derby clash, it soon became apparent that this game was going to be anything other than a friendly by name!
Perhaps United anticipated some of the feistiness having raided Sunderland for players in the close season. Perhaps Sunderland were a little bit jealous of all the attention the full-time Lady Mags are getting and wanted to make a statement.
Whatever the feelings between both sets of players and Clubs it proved to be a game that was an excellent workout for each of them. A game that was used to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Cancer Trust to show cancer has no colours.
Sunderland struck first in the game on six minutes. Katie Kitching whipping in a dangerous free-kick into the box, with Sunderland winning the first ball and then Jenna Dear smashing home the second ball.
Buoyed by their start they went looking for more. Liz Ejupi did brilliantly to beat her marker and fizz a reverse cross into the box only United to block Kitching’s shot.
A good move by The Lasses on 19 minutes almost brought them an equaliser. Elysia Boddy did well to dispossess Mary McAteer and found Charlotte Potts on the left. Potts’ ball into the box picking out Anna Soulsby and her effort was excellently turned onto the post at close range by Claudia Moan.
Kitching’s then curled a corner onto the line, which was palmed away by Grace Donnelly in the United goal. The ball fell to Emily Scarr but her resulting close range effort was fired over.
Sunderland did though increase their lead on 28 minutes. Kitching threading a neat pass in down the right and McAteer firing into the top corner with a well-hit shot.
Two down, Wor Lasses fought back and on the half-hour, as Potts had a header and follow-up strike blocked after a dangerous free-kick delivered by Emma Kelly. Before Liz Ejupi had the ball in the back of the United net for a third time, it was correctly ruled offside.
United were then indebted to a brilliant recovery from Amber-Keegan Stobbs, who somehow got back to clear the ball almost off the line after McAteer flicked the ball over an onrushing Donnelly.
Jas McQuade, who has been in fine form for United in pre-season, then went close. She somehow kept the ball, despite challenges from three defenders, and created room for a shot which was just inches over the crossbar.
It was McQuade again driving Newcastle up the field with a great run, and recovering possession after her pass to Bridget Galloway was cut out. She teed-up Kacie Elson, but the winger fired just wide from the edge of the area.
At half time, United were a little unlucky to be 2-0 down, although Sunderland had been the better and more dangerous side.
Within two minutes of the re-start though it was definitely game on as United pulled one back from a corner. Kelly’s delivery finding Potts, whose powerful header went through a crowd of players and hit the back of the net.
Sunderland’s response was good. Amy Goddard meeting a corner with a powerful header, but it went just wide. Then Scarr delivered a great cross, to McAteer but her header went wide of the near post.
Georgia Gibson had returned to the Newcastle ranks following a long break in pre-season and saw her first action of the campaign coming on for McQuade and testing Moan with a moving long range effort that the Sunderland ‘keeper was equal to.
The feistiness of the contest spilled over on 75 minutes when ex-Sunderland skipper Kelly was shown a second yellow card and sent-off after an altercation with Dear, who was also booked.
The ten Lasses battled on gamely and Hannah Reid who had come on for Donnelly made a great save one-on-one to deny Ellen Jones. But it was a temporary reprieve as Katy Watson went through on goal and calmly slotted s a left-footed shot past Reid.
That third Sunderland goal had come on 83 minutes and four minutes later it was 4 – 1. Substitute Grace Ede making an instant impact, fizzing a brilliant cross to McAteer, who smashed it home for her second of the night.
Still United didn’t lie down and almost on the full-time whistle were awarded a penalty after a handball from Elson’s cross. Teenager Becky Ferguson on as a substitute showed no nerves slotting the kick home to make it 4 – 2 on the night.
Despite the result and conceding four goals United were still pleased with the game and its competitiveness. Emma Kelly might be wondering about her reaction but it clearly showed how much she cared about the fixture.
Pre-season is all about testing yourself and finding our about your squad to assess your options. Certainly Becky Langley will now know more about her charges after such a tough game and will use the experience to power The Lady Mags on.
The Lasses have one more pre-season friendly to play against Chester-le-Street Town at Kingston Park, Newcastle on Sunday 13th August before the open their league campaign at the same venue on Sunday 20th August against Halifax Town.
