Triple signing and 90th-minute drama – What a week for Newcastle United Women!

Well, that was some weekend for United’s Lasses! Three signings through the door, two of whom made their debuts at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United in a hard-fought 1 – 1 draw.

Playing against the side second-bottom of the League United were looking to complete a double over The Blades following their opening home game of the season when they took a 2 – 0 win over the South Yorkshire outfit.

But as everyone in football knows, the game is played on a pitch and not on paper and sometimes things don’t always go the way that they are planned. There’s no doubt that United will have come away from Sunday’s game disappointed with the end result.

However, a point away from home is never to be sniffed at and with so many injuries and changes to personnel it perhaps was a better result than it looked. Even if it took a very dramatic injury time equaliser to get that point.

United had started with new signing Charlotte Wardlaw from Chelsea in the back line. A signing that they had made over a week ago but hadn’t announced until late in the week. There was also another new face in the squad and on the bench.

Poppy Pritchard, a local lass, had been announced on Saturday as joining The Magpies on loan from Manchester City of The WSL for the rest of the season. The 19-year-old centre forward has spent the first half of this season on loan at Crystal Palace also in the WSL.

Pritchard represented England last summer in the European Under-19s Championship, scoring four goals across four appearances including a hat-trick against Lithuania and prior to joining Man City in January 2024, she played for Durham Women for two years.

Pritchard would get her first minutes in United’s colours in the second half coming on for Katie Barker on 60 minutes but was unable to help her new side to a victory although she was on the field when the late equaliser came.

Newcastle had started the brighter and went close on 7 minutes when Jas McQuade played Barker through. Her lofted shot was beaten away by Sian Rogers. The ball fell to McQuade following up but Rogers was there again to clear off the line with her feet.

A third strike came in from Isabella Sibley from close range but wasn’t struck hard enough and was grabbed by Rogers and the chance was gone. On 15 minutes it was Rogers again to the rescue for the home side.

Lia Cataldo’s throw-in to the box saw Shania Hayles turn smartly and from 12-yards out drive a great effort that look destined for the far corner until Rogers threw herself full length to turn the ball away in fine style.

United did continue to push and were on top in the game and the first half but efforts from Barker, McQuade and Amber-Keegan Stobbs all came to nothing as the half progressed.

Indeed, United were almost undone on 40 minutes after not converting their territorial advantage into a goal. Maria Farrugia cutting in from the left and letting a 20-yard right-foot effort flew past Claudia Moan.

Fortunately for Newcastle and Moan the ball cannoned back into play off the crossbar keeping the score line blank and five minutes later it was still blank as the half-time whistle went.

The Blades opened the brighter in the second half and it was Farrugia again that almost gave Sheffield the lead on 49 minutes. A long ball forward deflected into her path off Hannah Greenwood some 22-yards from goal.

The talented midfielder didn’t hesitate and cracked a superb volley that was heading towards the top corner of the net. Moan had other ideas producing breathtaking acrobatics to dive full length and at full stretch brilliantly turn the ball away with her left hand.

Unfortunately Moan went from hero to villain and also made it a debut that Wardlaw will never forget. The new United centre back chasing a ball down the United left down and then from 40 yards out turning the ball back towards her keeper.

Moan though failed to get a touch on the ball and it rolled past her and into an empty net to hand Sheffield United a late Christmas present and a very fortunate lead. United now had a job on their hands.

Amy Andrews perhaps should have drawn United level on 85 minutes when substitute Rachel Furness lofted a ball over the top of the Sheffield defence. It feel to Andrews only six yards out but she didn’t connect well and stabbed the ball wide of the target.

Newcastle though didn’t let their heads go down and inside the first minute of injury time grabbed a late, late equaliser. Lois Joel’s initial corner was headed out by Sheffield skipper Satara Murray but came back to Joel just outside the 18-yard line.

Joel lifted a cross deep to the back post and there was experienced Northern Ireland international Furness inside the six-yard box to loop a header back across that evaded everyone and drop into the corner of the net for her first United goal.

So, a point salvaged and a point deserved despite the performance perhaps not being at the standard Becky Langley would have liked to have seen from her side. But then this season was always perhaps going to be a building one.

Further evidence of that was announced on Monday with the thrilling permanent signing from Aston Villa of winger Freya Gregory. It completed a trio of signings for Langley to bolster her options going forward.

The 21-year-old spent time earlier this season on loan with Southampton in the Barclays Women’s Championship, making eleven appearances in all competitions scoring two goals for Southampton, including the Saints’ opener in a 1-1 draw against the Magpies at St. James’ Park in September.

She has also had loan spells with Leicester City and Reading and represented England through the age groups, playing for the national team at under-17, under-19 and under-23 level.

It’s another classy ambitious signing by United as they look to bring young promising talent to their efforts to move up the Championship table. It could well make the line-up next Sunday for the home League game against bottom of the table Portsmouth very interesting indeed.