Whisper it quietly, whisper it carefully but perhaps whisper it confidently. Newcastle United Women are most definitely at this moment in time right in the Championship title race.
Becky Langley’s magnificent Lady Mags produced a stunning 2 – 0 away win at league leaders Birmingham City last Sunday to move within two points of the summit in the Barclays Championship ahead of today’s trip to Bristol.
Still early days, or is it? A 20-game league season doesn’t give much margin for error so every win is to be celebrated and logged. There’s now only two points separating the top five sides in the division showing how tight and exciting the title race is.
Only the Champions get promoted, at least for this season, and that race is already looking the most intense and exciting in whatever form of football you may follow with Wor Lasses right there.
The win on Sunday was one of those that great teams get. A grind-out effort full of determination and togetherness. United were under the cosh for long periods of the game but stuck to their task magnificently and came away with rich rewards at the end.
Birmingham could easily have taken the lead in Sunday’s game. Ivana Fuso picking out Lily Agg unmarked in the centre of the box only 6-yards out after 8 minutes. Agg though blazing over with the goal at her mercy.
Blues paid the price 6 minutes later when a similar attack from Newcastle opened the scoring. Beth Lumsden showing magic feet on the left to carve open a run to the byline before she pulled the ball back to the waiting Shania Hayles.
Hayles, a Jamaican international, hit the inviting pass first-time from just outside the six-yard box with her left foot giving Birmingham keeper Lily Thomas no chance and taking Hayles to six for the season. A league leading effort.
The home side did hit back and when Claudia Moan’s poor clearance from her box fell to Fuso, Newcastle’s keeper did brilliantly to recover and tip the Brazilian’s effort around the post.
Agg also went close again for Blues with a header that beat Moan but Charlotte Potts was perfectly placed to clear from almost off the goal line. Newcastle controlling possession for the majority of the first 45 minutes which they led at the interval.
Whatever Birmingham manager Amy Merricks said to her players at half-time it certainly worked as they laid siege to United’s goal. The Blues came flying out of the traps in the second half and should’ve clawed themselves back level.
Firstly, Tegan McGowan could only direct her first-time volley narrowly wide of the far post. Then Fuso’s deflected cross rebounded back out off the crossbar and then it was Fuso again with two chances.
The Brazilian was found in acres of space and bearing down on goal, but Moan stood tall and tipped her fizzing effort behind for a corner. Moments later the number 13 was once again free at the back post, but despite having time on the ball, Fuso snatched at her effort which went aimlessly over from close range.
Just as the game approached the hour mark, Birmingham went close once more. A whipped free kick reached the back post, but Neve Herron could only cannon her header off the post and watch it trickle along the goal-line.
Birmingham then hit the frame of the goal again! An audacious Tegan McGowan strike from 25 yards which beat Moan but rattled off the crossbar and away to safety. It only seemed a matter of time before a goal came and so it proved.
Astonishingly though it was at the other end of the pitch. Lumsden twisting and turning Martha Harris inside out before letting her shot fly from 22-yards out. Thomas did superbly to push the ball onto her crossbar but could do nothing about the follow-up.
United substitute Isabella Sibley pouncing on the loose ball to smash it past her and despite a valiant defender’s effort on the line the ball went over it and gave Newcastle that much needed breathing space.
That goal took the sting out of Birmingham and indeed Sibley was inches away from adding to her tally with a deflected shot that beat Thomas but was inches wide as Newcastle took a superb road victory to lift themselves up the table.
United had gone into the game without skipper Amber-Keegan Stobbs who was suspended but Lois Joel came in and put in a great shift alongside Elysia Boddy who’s drive and industry was superb. Jas McQuade complementing her two midfield mates.
At the back United were tremendous. The ‘Denis Irwin’ of the squad Liv Watt showing her worth. Deanna Cooper and Potts solid as a rock in the centre and ex-Lioness Demi Stokes, captain for the day leading by example.
If that four were breached then Moan was there to show why she’s the reigning Championship Player of the Year with immaculate glove work as ever. Up front Hayles notched again and her partner Amy Andrews ran her socks off.
Lumsden, ‘The Mackem Slayer’, picking up two assists and being a constant menace all game to the Birmingham defence and even when Langley made substitutions the side never missed a beat. Sibley’s first goal in black and white a great contribution.
There was even a cameo for Georgia ‘Gallowgate’ Gibson which gave her 100 first-team appearances for The Club, a magnificent achievement from the skilful attacking midfielder.
So, United march on. This Sunday they have another very tough road trip to Bristol City who were relegated from the Super League at the end of last season. City haven’t made the best of starts so far this campaign but at home are a tough nut to crack.
This will be a special game for The Championship’s leading scorer Shania Hayles and her industrious midfield teammate Elysia Boddy. Both players joined Newcastle from Bristol and this will be their first game against their former employers.
If they can help United to another away victory then perhaps those whispers may even become a little louder in the Newcastle camp.
