Make no bones about it, there are far tougher tests ahead for Newcastle United Women, but it was nice to bring a successful summer to it’s conclusion in such spectacular fashion as Wor Lasses ended pre-season with a 9-0 win over Chester-le-Street Town.
Chester-le-Street are about to embark on their campaign in the FA Women’s League Division One North, the league Wor Lasses won last season. But for a couple of goals either way at the end of last season, this may even have been a forerunner for a league game later in the season.
The Lasses were due to take on Leeds United on Sunday afternoon but the Yorkshire outfit had to drop out and Chester-le-Street Town stepped in at the very last minute. Perhaps after a 9 – 0 drubbing, yes NINE, they may have wished they hadn’t.
But as Andy Cook, Newcastle’s 1st Team Assistant Coach, said to me after the game, “it’s pre-season and it’s about learning about yourselves and each other.” He said a lot more as well but you kind of get his drift.
United were sent out to show how much they’d improved. To play at their level, be ruthless, clinical, strong, committed to a game plan and professional in their approach. They clearly did all that and much more.
Cook had sent that Head Coach Becky Langley and he had told their charges to be at it from the first minute. They clearly were and continued to be completely dominant throughout. We thought it might be a mis-match and we weren’t wrong but credit goes to Town for taking the fixture and keeping going for the full 90 minutes.
United used as many of their squad as they could on the day. There were some injuries and unavailability but once again Langley ensured that those who were available got meaningful minutes under their belts.
The Lasses actually could have been in front even before they were. A chance or two going begging before Bridget Galloway opened the floodgates on 6 minutes.
Two minutes later and ‘buzzing and so proud’ Captain for the day Amber-Keegan Stobbs made it two. That first fifteen minutes that their coaches had signalled out as being where the marker was to be laid down was only missed by a minute.
Erin Nelson making it 3 – 0 on 16 minutes before Galloway notched her second two minutes later to make it four. It almost felt like an anti-climax that it took United until the 34th minute to make it 5 – 0 with Kacie Elson netting but a five-goal lead at half-time was certainly an impressive statement.
The challenge at the half was to keep it going even when changes were made. Once again the squad rose to the challenge. Galloway who surely is a good bet for leading scorer this season netting her hat-trick goal on 51 minutes.
Last season Georgia Gibson had so often been the leading light as The Lasses clinched promotion. Whether it was a goal or an assist Gibson was so often on hand to help her team. Due to finishing already committed work assignments before moving full-time, Gibson has not had a full part in pre-season.
She certainly made up for it on Sunday coming off the bench to net a trademark direct free-kick on 70 minutes and then a close range finish on 77 to settle for a brace that took United to an 8 – 0 scoreline.
The final goal came from one of the stars of pre-season, 18-year-old Becky Ferguson, on 81 minutes to complete a fabulous afternoon for NUFC Women and a very sobering and steep learning curve one for Town.
Cook announced himself delighted with the effort The Lasses had put in and how they’d responded to the challenges set and ticked off every box. It could easily have been a worthless exercise but he felt that they’d really showed the depth of the squad and how everyone is fighting for a place and looking to fit in and showing the right attitude.
So, pre-season done, next up it’s the opening Northern Premier League game at Kingston Park next Sunday, the 20th, against Halifax Ladies FC with a 14:00pm kick-off.
Amazingly 1,205 turned up for this fixture a figure NUFC will be hoping to double against Halifax. I think personally they will and then probably some!
Cook went on to say that Langley and himself were 90% sure of the line-up for that game, injuries permitting and virtually 100% settled on the formation and style they’ll play.
Judging by what I saw I can’t wait to see them all in action next Sunday as the ‘real’ season kicks in and off.
