Newcastle involved in eight-goal thriller as Wor Lasses clash with Man Utd

United’s Women’s Continental League Cup campaign came to an expected conclusion last night in Manchester with a creditable battling 5 – 3 defeat at the hands of the Super League United side.

When the group was drawn and Wor Lasses were paired with Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League it look a very tall task indeed. So, it proved in the end but Becky Langley’s side can take many a positive from the campaign.

A creditable 1 – 1 draw at home to Everton was followed by a real lesson in clinical professional play as they went down 6 – 1 at Kingston Park to a rampant Liverpool side. A sobering result especially given that Langley’s side played well in that defeat.

Manchester United away was always going to be a tough way to end the group but once again despite the defeat The Lady Mags did come away with reputation in tact and with plenty of positives to ponder.

It was 2 – 2 for quite some time in the game and despite a late second half barrage from The Mancunians, Wor United did score last showing their resilience and never-say-die attitude to give the final score line a better reflection of the game’s pattern.

Man Utd 5-3 Newcastle – Match report

United went behind on nine minutes and many feared the worst but their character and ability was shown and they levelled within four minutes with a beauty of a goal from Deanna Cooper.

The centre back picked the ball up just inside the Man. Utd half powered forward and then from the edge of the box smashed an absolute belter into the bottom corner to give Wor Lasses hope.

Emma Watson put Manchester back into the lead on 24 minutes with a nice finish and the home side pushed for more. Claudia Moan in the Newcastle goal having to make several fine saves to keep her team in the game.

Half-time came with The Lasses 2 – 1 down and facing a big second half which they got off to a superb start as Amy Andrews drew them level again after 47 minutes with her second goal in The Conti Cup.

Andrews showing great footwork after receiving the ball just inside the box to transfer the ball to her left foot before curling a great effort past Middleton-Patel in the Manchester giving her no chance.

Then came the Manchester barrage. Experienced international Rachel Williams made it 3 – 2 on 57 minutes. Newcastle though remained calm and almost grabbed another equaliser when Hannah Greenwood narrowly failed to get on the end of a Beth Lumsden cross when unmarked in a great position.

On 83 minutes Gabby George made it 4 – 2 for the home side and then Elizabeth Terland turned in a Leah Galton cross to make it 5 – 2 on 89 minutes but Wor Lasses were not finished just yet.

Lois Joel grabbing her first goal for The Club three minutes into injury time when a ball sat up nicely for her just outside the box and she drilled it home with a very efficient volleyed strike. It brought a touch of respectability to the final scoreline.

Out of the cup but positives to take

So, campaign over. It has been a massive steep learning curve for Becky Langley and her players but I believe it has been of big benefit to the squad and the Club. Especially given the Group they were handed.

Langley used the games to give a lot of her 25-player squad vital and learning minutes against higher league opposition and most of them will be better for the experience. Yes, they finished where most expected at the bottom of the group but that was no disgrace.

It was Newcastle’s first venture into the competition and one that they will have learnt an awful lot about themselves and what they need to do moving forward in the Barclay’s Championship which is what this season is all about.

This was also their last game of 2024 and they can look back on the calendar year with pride. From hoping to get promotion to obtaining that aim and no looking like an established Championship side with the potential to go even higher.