Well, I guess it had to happen sometime but Sunday was not the time we’d have chosen. After a defeat last weekend in the Adobe FA Women’s Cup at Manchester United it was back to league action at home against Nottingham Forest last Sunday.
The rallying call had gone up. The Lasses were set and a victory over Forest would have not only consolidated The Lady Mags title credentials it would have pretty much ended Forest’s as well.
United had already beaten Forest twice this season. In the FA WNL Cup 3 – 0 at home at Bullocksteads behind closed doors and impressively 1 – 0 away in the league at the City Ground. So, a third win was the confident hope of all connected with Newcastle.
But a wise coach, albeit in another sport, once said if you play the same opposition a number of times in the same season its difficult to keep beating them. Perhaps words that should have been imparted to Becky Langley’s side prior to kick-off.
The cold harsh reality though – after 90 minutes when Wor Lasses were far from their best and struggled all game to break Forest down – was it was the visitor’s who went away with the spoils. Forest may even now believe they are back in the title race.
What is certain that after United’s first league loss of the season, the title race has very much opened up with Burnley the biggest benefactors of Sunday’s 2 – 1 away win for Forest. Forest have three losses so still ground to make up and still have Burnley to play.
That game is next weekend and should be a cracker. United are still top of the table and five points clear of Burnley but the Lancashire side have two games in hand. Win both and they will be in pole position.
One thing is certain the game where Newcastle have to visit Burnley was always a big game. After Sunday’s defeat it just got even bigger. That said there is still an awful lot of football still to be played this season and perhaps more twists and turns to come.
Remember too that Wor Lasses won the League last season to clinch promotion despite losing two games and so far this season Sunday was their first reverse. Certainly, it was a result that has put the proverbial cat amongst The Magpies!
And yet it all started so perfectly for United on Sunday with an opening goal on 4 minutes which came from Georgia Gibson who was also involved in the action that lead to the goal.
Katie Barker won the ball well on the left and then powered into the box spinning around a defender before laying a great square ball into the path of Gibson. Her first time left foot shot was brilliantly turned around the post though by Forest keeper Emily Batty.
Gibson was not to be denied and reacted superbly to Tyler Dodds floated corner getting in front of her defender to meet the ball with a fine downward header from just outside the six-yard box giving Batty no chance and putting United in front.
There was a five minute or so period when Forest were all hands to the pump following Gibson’s seventh goal of the season but United despite pressing and upping the pressure couldn’t break through and Forest began coming back into the game
On 16 minutes they almost forced an equaliser. A cross into the home box by Mollie Green was met by Lyndsey Harkin who’s header deflected slightly off Charlotte Potts and came back of the cross bar and was scrambled clear by the United defence.
In truth Grace Donnelly in the United goal may well have got a touch to the effort to take it on to the bar and if so it was a fine save but it was also a warning for United that Forest were now starting to find their feet.
A warning United didn’t heed when Forest deservedly drew level on 30 minutes with a bad goal from a defensive point of view although it also had a touch of controversy about it as well.
Hannah Greenwood played a back pass to Donnelly who tried to return the ball to Greenwood. Donnelly’s return ball was a bit to firm and not direct to Greenwood who trying to control the ball lost it just inside the box to Alice Keitley.
Keitley bore down on Donnelly but unselfishly squared to Louanne Worsey who was about 8-yards out with an open goal. Somehow Worsey failed to convert, hitting the post with the ball coming back out to Keitley inside the six-yard box. Although Keitley seemed to be in an offside position she was allowed to tap in with her left foot and the goal stood.
Newcastle were rocked but kept trying to push forward against a resolute well-organised Forest side. The closest United came to striking again was on 39 minutes when a Dodds right wing cross aimed for Barker at the back post was headed inches past her own post by Abi Cowie.
From the resulting corner Emma Kelly’s inswinger drifted just over the bar and landed on the roof of the net. It was the last significant action of the first half which ended level and was a fair reflection of the play.
The second half saw neither side able to gain an advantage or take control of the game. Langley began ringing the changes and one of her substitutes Jas McQuade looked lively. Taking Naomi Bedeau’s pass on she drove forward but her 20-yard effort drifted over.
Gibson on 71 minutes played a pass to Amber-Keegan Stobbs who in turn found Bridget Galloway on the edge of the box with a neat pass. The striker held the ball up well and then released another substitute, Kacie Elson, in on goal with a great chance. Elson looked a certain scorer until Batty intervened doing superbly to turn the United substitute’s 8-yard angled over the bar in fine style.
Yet another substitute was almost a catalyst for another United breakthrough. New signing Beth Lumsden a wide attacker that has come in from Portsmouth showing great skill and awareness to find Galloway again in the centre of the field.
Once again Galloway showed good hold-up and link play releasing Elson into acres of space on the right-hand side of the box but unfortunately with loads of time and targets to hit Elson’s cross failed to find a United player.
As time ticked down it appeared that it was going to be a point a piece until the 90th minute of the game when Forest struck to shock The Lady Mags. A great ball through the heart of the Newcastle defence from the back by Harkin found Mai Muncaster.
Muncaster put in a really dangerous low cross to find Charlotte Greengrass on the edge of the six-yard box with her back to goal. Liv Watt the covering defender not allowing space for Greengrass to turn.
However the visitors striker di hold on to the ball and then laid it back into the path of the onrushing Niamh Reynolds who burst into the box unmarked and from 8-yards out calmly side-footed the ball past Donnelly and into the bottom corner of the net.
The massive 3,361 crowd that once again had done Wor Lasses proud were stunned into silence as Nottingham celebrated a late, late lead. There was though still time for United in injury time to carve out three great chances which they couldn’t take.
A Kelly free-kick from the right was whipped in dangerously and another substituted Nicki Gears and Batty went for the ball. Gears header bouncing off Batty and falling to Bedeau but she couldn’t control her effort that flew over the bar from six yards out.
Newcastle were throwing everything and everybody at Forest. A ball into the box was only half cleared and fell to Gibson some 20-yards from goal. Gibson struck a sweet left foot effort that flew past Batty but also went inches past the far post as well.
Then with virtually the last kick of the game Galloway was denied a United equaliser by a world class save from Batty. It was another Kelly free-kick well delivered into the danger area that caused confusion and fell loose.
Galloway was first to the ball and swivelled well to strike it on target only to see Batty spreading herself superbly to make a magnificent instinctive reflex save with her foot. The ball flying out of the box and the referee blowing the final whistle in the 97th minute.
A final whistle that showed contrasting emotions. The Forest players and bench celebrated like they’d won the League whilst Newcastle’s players sank to their knees in disbelief and shock.
It was a very strange feeling indeed and I’m sure one that no-one connected with United, players, coaches and supporters want to experience again. Becky Langley’s side will re-group and hopefully come back stronger as they are still in pole position for the title race and only one defeat is not a complete disaster.
Our woman’s team is doing brilliantly well when you consider where they were just 12 months ago.
Huge changes to their set up too but everyone involved has risen to the challenge. This is a bump in the road but I have no doubt they will turn things around.
Sharpy17(Quote)