In 1979, McFadden & Whitehead released their iconic disco hit ‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’. Fast forward 24 years and with Wor Lasses dancing to yet another victory, they could well adopt it as their theme tune!
Becky Langley’s side are in irresistible form and are piling up the points, goals and clean sheets as they continue their relentless march forward. Whilst on paper this was ‘just’ run-of-a-mill League game, it had a special feeling about it all day.
Co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi were in attendance. There was a record incredible Kingston Park crowd of 4,172 and there was a Bonfire Night firework display after the game. But as now seems the regular Sunday afternoon treat, it was The Lady Mags that ignited the fire with their explosive firepower on the pitch that lit up the afternoon in spectacular fashion
Wherever you looked on the pitch and then even from the bench, there was a stellar individual performance that all cumulated in a magical team performance that simply blew Stourbridge away as the visitor’s had no answers to United’s constant questioning.
From minute one to minute 90 there was only one team in it. Well almost every minute. Stourbridge did manage one very, very brief flicker of an opportunity that had they taken it could have made all the difference. They didn’t and lived to regret it big-style.
United dominated earlier on pressing and shooting at every opportunity. It felt like only a matter of time before they would break through. The Stourbridge defence working overtime to keep United out with brave and at times desperate defending.
They were given a chance to backup their rearguard action with a United error on 16 minutes. There appeared little danger when Amber-Keegan Stobbs stepped in to break up a visiting attack. But, the Lasses’ skipper’s back-pass to keeper Grace Donnelly was hit a tad too firmly and Donnelly failed to control it. As the ball broke free Ellie Butler nipped in rounded the United keeper inside the box and seemed to have an open goal in front of her.
Newcastle’s defenders were scrambling to get back and, whether their presence unnerved Butler or whether she took her eye of the ball, she lost control at the vital second and the ball rolled away across the box with Charlotte Potts able to clear.
It was a huge let-off for United who responded magnificently and were in front 53 seconds later. Kacie Elson and Katie Barker led a breakaway and although Stourbridge cleared the initial danger Emma Kelly was on hand to continue the attack.
Kelly played a great ball forward to Barker who controlled it beautifully before laying it into the onrushing path of Georgia Gibson who took a great first touch and from a yard inside the box smashed it right-footed bast Jamie-Lee Bamford to give United the lead.
Three minutes later it was 2 – 0 and the game seemed over. Olivia Watt talking a quick throw-in that caught the visitor’s napping. Kelly drove to the byline and cut the ball back towards Gibson who was denied by Esme Moran at the expense of a corner.
Kelly delivered a great ball into the box and from a central position about 8-yards out Potts met it with a terrific downward header that Bamford got both hands too but failed to keep out.
Two became three on 35 minutes with Bridget Galloway claiming her tenth goal of the season after three games without one! It came from a nice ball wide from Potts to the overlapping Niaomi Bedeau. Her measured cross saw Galloway flick a great goal bound header that flicked off Stourbridge defender Rosie Embley and over Bamford’s despairing dive to give United a three-goal cushion at the half-time break.
Was it now going to be damage limitation for Stourbridge or more domination for United in the second 45 minutes? In truth it was a bit of both.
It was Barker who netted the fourth on 59 minutes with the goal of the game. Barker who is flourishing since getting a starting spot had been switched out wide right after starting at centre forward. United’s #9 showed her abilities with a great goal.
A free-kick about ten yards inside the Stourbridge half was pinged from Stobbs to the energetic engine that is Elysia Boddy. Back to Stobbs it went, off to Potts it went and back to Stobbs opening up the space for a decisive forward pass to Barker.
From the inside right position 40 yards from goal she spun beautifully inside her marker and drove towards the visitor’s box. Without breaking stride she crashed a superb 20-yard effort that simply flew past Bamford giving the Stourbridge keeper no chance at all.
United were making substitutions as they went and on 78 minutes two of the substitutes combined to fashion another superb goal to make it a nap-hand for United. Bedeau playing the ball up to the edge of the box finding Becky Ferguson on the edge of the box.
Ferguson came inside and across the box before laying the ball perfectly into the stride of Cara Milne-Redhead who smashed it first time from the ‘D’ low past Bamford who once again found her full-length dive insufficient to keep the ball out.
When the final whistle went it was a joyous Newcastle camp that celebrated another superb performance and devastating win. The camaraderie and togetherness of this team is so clear to see both on and off the pitch as they continue their fantastic forward progress.
Much has been made of the summer signings but once again four of the five goals came from players that were part of the League Division 1 North Championship squad who have all stepped up this season with great distinction.
Long may it last and on this evidence it could. Next weekend see’s United off to Oldham to take on North West Woman’s Regional League side Mancunian Unity in the FA Cup. Unity are looking to cause an upset but will find it tough against these inform United Lasses.
4️⃣,1️⃣7️⃣2️⃣
A remarkable turnout for a memorable day at Kingston Park!
Thank you for your tremendous support!#NUFCWomen pic.twitter.com/ug5ycdgKFd
— Newcastle United Women (@NUFCWomen) November 6, 2023
