Newcastle complete FA Cup double as Wor Lasses set up Super League challenge

Newcastle United Men weren’t the only Toon team to progress in the FA Cup over the weekend.

Two moments of absolute Championship quality were mainly responsible for United’s women making it through to the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. A screamer of a goal from Jas McQuade and unbelievable brilliant reflex save from Claudia Moan in injury time the two crucial moments.

In truth before McQuade’s strike and Moan’s save there had been little to write or comment about in a game where defences were well on top throughout. United looking a bit ring rusty having not played since they lost in The Continental League Cup 5 – 3 away at Manchester United on December 11th.

Nottingham Forest had 120 minutes under their belts much more recently having earned the right to face United on Sunday thanks to a 1 – 0 extra-time win over fellow FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division rivals Burnley.

Forest came into the game unbeaten and top of their division with 9 wins and 2 draws from 11 games played and a scoring record of 47 for and only 4 conceded. Clearly a side looking to make it to the Championship next season and a tough, tough opponent for Newcastle on the day.

Match report: Newcastle 1-0 Nottingham Forest

It proved to be a tight if somewhat uninspiring contest with both sides showing caution and unable to open the other up during a very uneventful first 45 minutes where United were nowhere near their best and Forest looked the brighter without creating much themselves.

Charlie Wellings having the first shot on goal after 14 minutes but her chipped effort from the edge of box sailed over the bar and landed on the top of the net. United’s first strike on goal came after 27 minutes when Lia Cataldo played a lovely through ball to set Amy Andrews in on goal.

But with the angle tightening Andrews perhaps should have tried to aim for the far post from about 12-yards but went for the near post instead and could only strike her right-footed effort into the side-netting.

United’s only other chance of the first half came on 38 minutes when a long ball from Deanna Cooper was chased down by Isobel Sibley inside the Forest box. She laid it back to the advancing Cataldo but the full back fired well over from 14 yards.

Just before the break United were forced into a substitution when the unlucky Emma Kelly not long back from injury had to be helped from the field by the Newcastle medical staff and was replaced by McQuade. Kelly was later seen leaving the ground on crutches.

Into the second half and Newcastle were brighter but still unable to create much. Indeed, Nottingham went closest on the hour mark to breaking the deadlock. Mel Johnson’s cross to the near post met by ex-Magpies striker Bridget Galloway but Moan made a good block.

The ball went loose and in the scramble that followed Millie Chandarana had a clear sight of goal from about 8-yards out but with Newcastle defenders trying to cover she snatched and the chance and stabbed it wide of the post.

Just after United almost took the lead. Another long ball by Cooper saw Andrews get on the end of it, chip the ball neatly over a defender’s head and then as the ball came down hit a 10-yard half volley that Emily Batty in the Forest goal dived to her right and turned the ball away in fine style.

Shania Hayles replaced Sibley for United and almost grabbed a goal shortly after coming on. A determined run by skipper Amber-Keegan Stobbs into the box saw the ball fall to Hayles after a deflection but from barely six-yards out she scuffed her shot.

Forest didn’t clear their lines and Katie Barker had a half-chance but could only hook the ball over the bar from about 8-yards out. Newcastle though were now looking the more likely although chances were few and far between until the 76th minute.

With the ball bouncing around in midfield, McQuade did well to rob Hollie Olding and then drove forward before unleashing a thunderbolt of a right-foot shot from fully 25-yards out. The ball flying past the despairing dive of Batty and crashing into the net off the underside of the bar.

A wonder goal from absolutely nothing and a real moment of quality from McQuade, a young local product that has bags of talent and certainly showed it in that moment.

With five minutes to go there was a great moment for young Ava Chapman who came on for her first-team debut for Newcastle having starred this season in the Development side. A wonderful sight to see the Geordie youngster making such a big step up.

United though were indebted to their goalkeeper Moan for keeping them ahead and helping them through to the next round as the game ticked into injury time. Amy Sims crossing a dangerous ball into the United area from the right that caused confusion.

The ball fell nicely for Johnson who hooked it goalwards only to see Moan make a remarkable and brilliant reflex save with her outstretched left hand to somehow turn the ball over the bar. United cleared the subsequent corner and not long after the final whistle sounded and The Lasses were through.

Their reward for their victory is a tough away draw in the fifth round as they have to go to the capital to take on Women’s Super League outfit Crystal Palace in London with the ties for the last 16 stage taking place over the weekend of the 8th/9th of February.

Palace dumping Sheffield United out of the cup with an emphatic 6 – 1 home victory. Coincidentally Sheffield United are Newcastle’s next opponents as Wor Lasses travel to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield this coming Sunday in a crucial Championship match-up.

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