Over 3,000 see Newcastle United women’s team get off to best possible home start | OneFootball

A crowd of 3,221 fans braved a chilly Kingston Park on Sunday as Newcastle United women clinched a 2-0 win in their home opener.

It was a historic occasion given this was the Lasses’ first win at second tier level in the women’s game.

Wor Flags ensured the players would enter the pitch to a fanfare before a minute’s applause was held for former club photographer Colin Lock, who sadly passed away over the summer.

There was also a minute’s applause in the 8th minute in memory of Sheffield United’s Maddy Cusack who sadly passed away a year earlier.  During the warm up the Blades had worn a special shirt with Maddy’s name and number on, to honour her legacy.

After a good point on the road, Newcastle desperately wanted to claim a win at home in front of their loyal fans and with five minutes gone they made the perfect start. Shania Hayles, who scored in the 1-1 draw at Bromley a fortnight ago, turned her marker in the box before sending over a perfect cross to the back post where Beth Lumsden swivelled before volleying the ball home.

The Steel City side responded well to their early setback as Maltese winger Maria Farrugia grew into the game with a series of efforts, her first was well blocked before United goalie Claudia Moan claimed her follow up. Farrugia would see an effort saved later in the half, with another fired just wide from the edge of the box, before sending her final chance, a dangerous cross in from the left, just over the head of main striker Grace Foy and Eva Butler who was cutting in off the opposite flank.

Aside from those chances it was mostly one-way traffic. Beth Lumsden, enjoying her recall to the starting XI, cut out a Blades ball from the back before slotting Hayles in. The Jamaican international got a decent shot away but Blades goalie Sian Rogers was equal to it with a good save.

Hayles nearly made it 2-0 just after the half hour mark when she made a great run through the Blades back line, holding off a defender before dragging her shot wide.

However, with four minutes left in the half, she wouldn’t be denied. Lois Joel, who was making her first Newcastle start after coming in at right-back for the injured Lia Cataldo, got to the byline and crossed to the front post, where Shania Hayles headed home. The Blades defence were asleep as Hayles stole in unnoticed.

Sheffield United’s defenders were not comfortable on the ball either, easily pressured into mistakes, but going forward they remained a threat.

Ellen Molloy and Eva Butler were good at getting forward to join the attack, while Monique Robinson worked hard on the left hand side of midfield, where she was able to get forward and send in a series of low crosses. Charlotte Wardlaw’s ball out of defence found Grace Foy, who showed nice feet to advance before playing in Mulloy for a shot, but that was about as good as it got for the Blades in the first half.

It was a different story in the second 45 minutes. A Sheffield United corner caused Moan problems, her punched clearance fell to Leanne Cowan, with the visiting full-back hitting the bar from close range before Newcastle cleared the danger.

Farrugia continued to cause problems down the left. Foy slotted her in one-on-one but she was denied by Moan who closed down the angle well to protect the lead. United’s goalie was kept busy throughout the second half. She was helped out by Charlotte Potts on one occasion when she put pressure on Molloy after she was put through the middle by Robinson.

Moan was called into action again with 15 minutes to go, saving a one-on-one from substitute Liv Edwards before making a good save moments later at the front post to deny a powerful strike from Molloy.

Either side of those chances Newcastle created enough of their own to make the game safe. Jas McQuade had a cross cleared but only as far as Lumsden, who chested the ball down and hit a shot on the half volley wide. While Elysia Boddy tried her luck from 30 yards out, but her curling effort went narrowly past the post.

The final chance fell to United substitute Sophie Haywood, who arrived over the summer from the Blades. She forced Sian Rogers into a superb save with three minutes to go and it would have made for a perfect ending to the game. It wasn’t to be but Newcastle saw the game out and move on to their next challenge, Portsmouth away next weekend.

Newcastle United: Claudia Moan, Lois Joel (Liv Watt 76), Deanna Cooper, Charlotte Potts (Hannah Greenwood 67), Demi Stokes, Elysia Boddy, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (Rachel Furness 76), Jasmine McQuade, Beth Lumsden (Katie Barker 85), Amy Andrews, Shania Hayles (Sophie Haywood 67).

Subs not used: Hannah Hawkins, Georgia Gibson, Kacie Elson, Isabella Sibley.

Sheffield United: Sian Rogers, Leanne Cowan, Abbie Lafayette (Fallon Connolly-Jackson 72), Ella Kinzett, Charlotte Wardlaw, Maria Farrugia, Monique Robinson, Ellen Molloy, Eva Butler (Jade Bailey 82), Grace Foy (Liv Edwards 72), Satara Murray (Annie Wilding 36).