So, from the press box of St. James Park to the Announcer’s box at Kingston Park! I was called up to be the Stadium PA Announcer last weekend for The Lady Mags opening competitive game of the season against Burnley Women in the FA Women’s National League Cup.
And what a game I was rewarded with for my voice’s public debut in the FA WNL Cup! A thrilling 3 – 2 win for The Lasses completed in over time. Sadly my moment of glory in the torrential rain storms was denied me by a massive power cut that hit the stadium.
It came with the scores level at 2 – 2 in the final 15 minutes of extra time and meant I wasn’t able to share Becky Ferguson’s late winner with those that were still in the ground. Never mind at least NUFC Women got the winner and move on in the Cup.
This is a competition that they could go very far in and have a decent chance of winning. Clubs in the Women’s Championship and Super League don’t enter meaning the Northern, Southern and Midlands Premier Leagues are the highest standard.
Last year the final was won by Wolves who beat Notts Forest. Both those teams, despite their locations, were members of the Northern Premier League. The League Wor Lasses will contest this season.
Burnley Women are also in that league meaning Becky Langley’s side have now dispatched one of their rivals for the competition after Sunday’s thrilling win but boy it wasn’t easy and Burnley more than gave The Lasses a game.
Langley started five of her eight pre-season starters in had two more on the bench. Sadly Eylsia Boddy who has played more minutes than anyone in pre-season had felt the strain of those minutes and was unavailable through injury.
But Jodie Bartle at the back, Amber-Keegan Stobbs who also took the captaincy, Hannah Greenwood and Emma Kelly in midfield along with Bridget Galloway up front all got first starts. Tyler Dodds and Niaomi Bedeau on the bench.
It was Galloway, who must be a massive bet for the Golden Boot, who got the opener after Kacie Nelson had been brought down in the box. Wor Lasses new centre forward driving the penalty home in fine style inside the first five minutes.
In truth after that Burnley were possibly the better side and certainly the more dangerous. The Newcastle rearguard having to be on their toes and Grace Donnelly in goal making a couple of fine saves as the visitor’s pushed for an equaliser.
The Lasses though went in at half-time one-up and we all hoped for more in the second half. We didn’t get it as inside the first minute of the second period Burnley drew level. Leah Embley doing really well to keep a ball in on the byline and steadying herself.
She stood a great cross up to the back post and Millie Ravening was there to head home from close range to give the visitor’s a perfect start to the second half. It was an equaliser they had deserved.
Newcastle were then indebted to Elson being in the right place at the right time when further Burnley pressure saw Rhema Lord-Mears’ shot beat Donnelly but the United wide player was able to kick the ball off the goal line.
United brought on Georgia Gibson and Tyler Dodds in an attempt to get further forward and nullify Burnley’s threat and it worked as they began to look more dangerous with Gibson in particular linking up well with Galloway and looking a threat.
Gibson herself went close with an effort before Charlotte Potts headed just wide from an Emma Kelly. The Lady Mags were forcing the pace now and Hannah Greenwood had a glorious chance to put them in front but unfortunately volleyed over when arriving late inside the six-yard box to get on the end of another Kelly corner.
No further goals though meant 30 minutes extra time and three minutes into that Galloway struck again to put United in front. Strongly shrugging off a Burnley challenge she ran away from the defence before calmly slotting the ball past Lovell in the visiting goal.
Kelly almost sealed the win for Newcastle when Burnley failed to clear Gibson’s free-kick the ex-Sunderland skipper was first to the ball but her shot although beating Lovell was blocked on the line.
Despite being on top The Lasses were rocked a minute inside the second period of extra time when the dangerous Embley got free on the left hand side of the box and drove the ball firmly past Donnelly to equalise.
There was still more drama to come. With penalties looming Kelly got a pass in behind the visitor’s defence and there was substitute Becky Ferguson to drive low and hard across Lovell into the bottom corner to restore The Lady Mags lead.
Even then with virtually the last kick of the game Burnley almost grabbed a third equaliser. In fact Ravening looked a certain scorer as she was given a chance one-on-one but Donnelly made a superb block to maintain the lead and see The Lasses through to the next round.
United certainly got a taste of what this season is going to be all about. Burnley were a well organised disciplined side with plenty of ability and they will be tough opponents when it comes to the league games between the two sides.
But The Lasses showed character and resilience throughout the 120 minutes and with an attitude like this will surely have a chance of further glory this season. Up next is a trip to the North West today to take on AFC Fylde in their first league game of the season.
