This was the game. The one everyone had been looking at since Wor Lasses drew 0 – 0 at home against the same opposition back in October. A game where Burnley to all intent and purpose parked the bus and Bridget Galloway missed a penalty.
Since then Burnley had always appeared to be the main obstacle and rivel in the way of United’s Women marching straight through the Northern Premier Division to earn a second successive promotion and elevation to the FA Championship.
In recent weeks Nottingham Forest have joined Burnley in being possible party-poopers to United’s proposed celebrations. Forest have defeated both United and Burnley in recent times to slightly open the promotion race.
Last Sunday though was a huge chance for both sides to make a difference. A win for Burnley would certainly have gotten them back into title contention whilst a victory for United would possibly end the Lancashire outfit’s hopes.
In the end and at the end it was Wor Lasses who made a huge statement of intent with a signature road win in front of a magnificent away following. The Lady that is not always described as thin may not yet be singing but may well be exercising her vocals.
There was a reported 594 in Sunday’s crowd. Of those a conservative (you can use Labour or Liberal Democrat if you prefer!) estimate put Newcastle’s contingent at between 300 – 350. A massive demonstration of the journey this team is on.
Perched in my press seat it was very funny to see the late arriving Burnley fans realisation of their normal favourite seats being occupied by these crazy Geordies who just love their Club. With good reason to as these are very exciting times.
The sense of pride that was emanating when The Lasses strode out to line-up for kick-off was evident. So were the smiles on the faces of the actual players at seeing the sea of black and white in front of them. This bond between fans and team is amazing to see.
So, to the game and what a solid, professional confident accomplished performance it was. Not without the odd scare along the way but in truth once the first goal went in there was only ever going to be one winner as bemused Burnley got battered.
The first chance of the game actually fell the home side’s way after five minutes. Captain Athea Carr hitting a 25 yard shot that rebounded to Millie Ravening who laid it in to the path of Monique Robinson.
Her 20-yard effort was bravely blocked by birthday girl Lia Cataldo and then tidied up by the Liv Watt sweeping it clear. Two of United’s back three making an immediate decisive impression.
United’s first strike on goal came after 10 minutes. Amber-Keegan Stobbs stabbing the ball forward to find Georgia Gibson who switched the ball out left to Katie Barker. The speedy winger cutting into the box and then centrally from 16 yards pulling the shot just wide.
Three minutes later Burnley went close with Leah Embley being picked out by Robinson before driving a terrific shot from the right hand side of the box over Grace Donnelly’s despairing dive but fortunately for United the ball clipped the bar on its way over the top.
Back came United who dominated possession and chances from that moment on. Hannah Greenwood driving a well-hit shot wide as Newcastle turned up the heat on the Burnley goa.
Cataldo then played a neat ball forward to Paige Bailey-Gayle inside the box United’s centre forward holding the ball up well before finding the onrushing Barker in a very similar position to her previous chance.
This time Barker’s low drive was on target but Kirstie Levell in the home goal dived down to her left and turned the ball aside in great style. An Emma Kelly free kick wide on the right created United’s next chance.
A beautiful delivery into the middle of the box was met by the late arriving Greenwood but her 8-yard flicked header went narrowly wide with Levell beaten but grateful to see it go the right side of the post from her point of view.
Next up on 36 minutes Watt showed excellent defensive prowess to intercept a Burnley attack before playing a lovely ball down the right for Bailey-Gayle who chested into Gibson’s path and went for the return.
Gibson’s return was perfect and Bailey-Gayle gathered it in her stride and sped away from the defence turning inside the box past Naomi Hartley and then curling a beautiful left-foot effort inches wide of the far post.
Five minutes later Gibson and Bailey-Gayle popped up on the other flank. This time it was Cataldo’s ball that found Gibson who played it expertly into Bailey-Gayle’s path first time. The striker drifting to the left side of box before driving in a shot that Levell saved at her near post.
So much possession and so many chances but none taken, The Lady Mags were nearly made to pay as the half ticked into injury time. Embley had switched to the left wing but cut inside before finding Lackey with her back to goal.
The striker turned the ball back to Ravening who struck her shot beautifully from just outside the box only to see Donnelly keep it out brilliantly with a superb reflex save with her feet.
It was the last action of an entertaining half where United had been the better team and created the better chances but the home side were well in the game and looked dangerous on the break.
The second half opened with Burnley finally looking as if they had settled into a rhythm and actually started the brighter with more possession although not really threatening the magnificently solid United defence.
Becky Langley sensing a possible change in the tide sent on Jas McQuade and Kacie Elson to replace Georgia Gibson and Beth Lumsden and they changes made a positive impact on the game with United turning possession around.
On 65 minutes the breakthrough came. Barker was tripped by Emma Siddall 25 yards from goal in a central position as she tried to turn the Burnley defender. Charlotte Potts stepped up and drove the free kick past the defensive wall towards the bottom corner.
Levell dived low to her left keeping the ball out but she could only parry it in front of herself. Elson was alive to the situation and was first to the loose ball smashing it home past the stranded Levell from 3-yards out.
A joyous moment for Elson, her teammates, the NUFC bench and of course the supporters as wild celebrations ensued. Newcastle were not now only on top but also in front and the confidence flowed as the home side’s ebbed away.
Shortly after the goal it was almost two. Cataldo taking a throw-in on the left and finding Bailey-Gayle who cleverly laid it into the path of McQuade. The substitute midfielder showed good footwork in finding Stobbs who’s 22-yard reverse shot beat Levell but came back off the post.
United through did double their lead on 70 minutes as the pressure paid off. Brilliant skills from McQuade giving her room to find Bailey-Gayle inside the box. The striker was denied a shooting chance by a brilliant Georgia Marshall tackle with the ball running free.
Elson again getting to it first and squaring it to Barker who’s 12-yard shot on the half turn was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Levell. The ball dropped into the six-yard box and Marshall stabbed it back to Levell who had no choice but to pick it up.
An indirect free kick! The whole Burnley side lined up across their goal line. Stobbs was over the ball with players either side of her. She rolled it slightly to Bailey-Gayle who thundered it at goal.
Levell got both hands to it but only to deflect it over the top of the defenders on the line and it hit the back of the net to make the game virtually safe for Wor Lasses. A sweet moment and the Jamaican internationals third goal in two games since signing.
From being a tight game, it now turned into a question of how many more United were going to get. Great work in midfield by Kelly saw her find the always available Bailey-Gayle further forward.
This time United’s centre forward laid the ball right for Elson who burst into the box before hitting a right-foot angled drive that Levell did well once again to save and turn around the post.
The third and clinching goal did arrive on 84 minutes and McQuade picked up her second goal in as many games after coming on from the bench. Greenwood played a neat ball to Elson on the left who had switched wings.
She came off the wing and found McQuade on the edge of the box. A sublime first touch took McQuade swaggering inside Siddall and opening the way for a shot that she hit through Hartley’s legs and past the helpless Levell into the net.
Signed, sealed and delivered it was game, set and match to Langley’s ladies who even went looking for more. A brilliant long ball from the back by Potts releasing substitute Tyler Dodds into the box.
Dodds stepped inside onto her left foot and drove her effort inches over the bar. Then as injury time ran it’s course Kelly found Stobbs on the edge of the box who fizzed an on-target effort at the Burnley goal only to see Levell tip it over in superb style.
The fans were celebrating long before the final whistle but United kept concentrating and almost right on time, Cataldo showed their determination to complete the job with a brilliant headed block from a long-range Burnley effort.
The referee final brough proceedings to a halt and the United bench emptied on to the field to celebrate with the players who in turn came straight over to the tremendous travelling Geordie support.
Chants of “We Are Top Of The League” ringing out from all as this special bond between officials, players and supporters gets ever deeper and the The Lady Mags juggernaut shows no signs of slowing up any time soon.
Now it’s on to Kingston Park this coming Sunday for the first of the eight league games remaining. Kick-off is 2:00pm as Wor Lasses look to continue their title charge and keep the good vibes and feeling rolling.
