After a superb win last Sunday at Birmingham City, Becky Langley’s NUFC Women travelled to Bristol City brimming full of confidence and looking to keep their Championship challenge on track.
Langley went unsurprisingly with an unchanged line-up for the game rewarding the players that had produced such a good result seven days previously at St. Andrews. This game again being played at a an EFL stadium, Ashton Gate,
Unfortunately, after a hard fought 90 minutes United found themselves on the end of a 2 – 0 reversal which is only their second league defeat of the season. A blow though to their hopes as City, who are a tough, tough nut to crack on their own ground, deservedly took all three points.
United in truth never really looked like coming home with a win. That said Bristol were not totally dominate but did strike at crucial times which gave Newcastle a mountain to climb which they never did.
Elysia Boddy and Shania Hayles both started for United against their former employers but in truth they and their teammates didn’t show enough quality particularly at the attacking end to forge another away day special for Langley’s Lasses.
United did make a bright start and good pressure from Amy Andrews saw Newcastle win possession in the City penalty box. Hayles keeping the ball in play, pulling back for Lois Joel on the edge, but she could only fire wide from a good position.
It did though take a vital stop from Charlotte Potts to keep The Lady Mags level, Napier’s ball in looked destined to find Woolley in front of goal, but the Magpies’ defender headed behind for a corner.
United’s next foray forward saw Jas McQuade play a smart pass wide to Beth Lumsden, but her left-footed effort across goal was wide of the target. Lumsden then tried her luck with a free-kick from 30 yards out.
It had Fran Bentley scrambling across her goal but although the worried keeper didn’t get to the ball she was relieved to see it drift just wide of the post. The game was very tight and looked like being a stale mate at half-time until the home side struck.
Two minutes into injury time a ball into the United box saw them fail to clear the lines. The ball sitting up nicely for Mari Ward to lash it high over Claudia Moan’s head into the roof of the net and totally change both side’s half-time team talks.
Newcastle’s initial response was a double substitution with Amber-Keegan Stobbs and Isabella Sibley coming on for McQuade and Liv Watt. Unfortunately, before either substitute had a chance to get into the game Bristol doubled their lead.
This time it was Lexi Lloyd-Smith who was on hand inside United’s box to once again give Moan no chance with a good clinical finish to make it 2 – 0 after 47 minutes.
In truth thereafter Bristol were content to sit back and soak up United’s pressure with a measured and resolute display that blunted any reposte Newcastle tried to mount until the 81st minute when Sille Struck was sent off for City after a second bookable offence.
This spurred Wor Lasses on for one final push but they just couldn’t fashion a decent opportunity to really test or worry Bentley other than on 86 minutes when Demi Stokes set-up Stobbs for a shot from the edge of the area but Bentley saved it comfortably.
So, a disappointing afternoon for Becky Langley and her players as they will head back to Tyneside with plenty to think about and ponder before their next big assignment which comes in a week’s time.
That’s when Southampton come to Toon for what could be a record-breaking historic day on Tyneside. With the match taking place at St. James Park on Sunday 17th November, United are looking to break the record attendance for a Barclay’s Championship game.
That record was set earlier this season at The Stadium of Light with 15,385 in attendance at Sunderland for the Wear-Tyne derby. Newcastle will be hoping to smash that figure and at the same time get themselves back on track with a win in front of the Geordie faithful.
I think we’ll be there or there abouts but won’t go up this season next season though i think we’ll do it
Absolutely glorious(Quote)