Tanya Oxtobys Black n White lasses are on the march. Two games, two wins, five scored none conceded. Three league points in the first game and progression to the last 32 of the Women’s Adobe FA Cup in the second. Not a bad first week for the new boss.
It started last Monday night at Gateshead International Stadium with a 1-0 win over Southampton. It wasn’t the prettiest of games on a cold Monday night but it was a winning start and a first win in the league at GIS.
United played really well in the first half our of the game and scored after 13 minutes when on her 33rd birthday Jordan Nobbs grabbed her first goal for The Toon. It was a lovely header too.
Charlotte Wardlaw bombing forward from right back and delivering a great cross into the box picking out Nobbs, who flicked the ball over Fran Stenson in some style to open her account for the club from 12-yards out.
Newcastle controlling the rest of the first half and then playing well defensively in the second 45 minutes when the Saints threw everything at them without though creating a clear-cut chance. United’s #1 Anna Tamminen dominating her box at all times.
Plenty of endeavour, resilience and strength though from the Lady Mags meant they held firm and took the three points tat moved them up to fourth in the table only three points of the play-off place. It also means it’s six games unbeaten in the league now.
Sunday in the Adobe FA Cup against North Premier League outfit Liverpool Feds was always, on paper, a comfortable home win and so it proved. United were on top from the get-go pinning the Feds deep into their own half.
It was only a matter of time before the floodgates opened and they duly did on 20 minutes when Jas McQuade slipped Shania Hayles through one-on-one with Feds keeper Eva Spencer. Spencer had no chance as Hayles cooling slotted the ball home.
Two more goals followed before halftime with Hayles doubling her tally and United’s with a simple unmarked header from inside the six-yard box as she got on the end of Nobbs well-flighted corner.
The third came when Oona Sevenius’ deep cross found Wardlaw at the back post and she calmly lifted a lovely cross into the centre of the box finding Emily Murphy who glanced a lovely header past the helpless Spencer from 8-yards.
Half-time was a respite for Liverpool and to their credit they gave everything in the second 45 minutes and stemmed the United tide for some time before McQuade killed the game off with about a quarter of an hour to go.
Picking a ball up just outside the box she showed great footwork to create an opening exchanged a great 1-2 with substitute Beth Lumsden before dancing towards goal. McQuade showing great composure as she lifted the ball over the diving Spencer.
So, Oxtoby’s army march into the last 32 where they will meet WSL Premier Division West Ham United with United drawn at home. That game will take place on the weekend of 17th/18th January.
But before then United have two league games to negotiate which in all honesty are more important to the Club than the FA Cup game. They have a very winnable game at Portsmouth this coming Sunday.
A win there would be a great way to welcome in Christmas and end the year on a high note. Then it’s the big one. Birmingham City at home on Sunday 11th January. A crucial game in the battle for promotion.
That said it has to be one game at a time. Oxtoby has breezed in and seems to have given the team and all around it a real lift. Two wins from two will breed confidence amongst all as Newcastle look to continue their progress up the league table.
Good luck to her.
davewallace(Quote)