Newcastle United women’s team pick up first ever Championship away win | OneFootball

Newcastle Women clinched a second win of the season in The Barclays Women’s Championship away to Portsmouth at Westleigh Park, their first ever Championship away victory.

Home of Non-League Havant and Waterlooville, the modest ground is a good eight miles outside of Portsmouth and represented one of the longest trips of the season.

That didn’t put off Newcastle supporters who travelled in numbers once again and made themselves heard throughout.

The Lady Mags last met Portsmouth at St James’ Park back in February when a 2-1 win saw them book a place in the National League Cup final. Very little separated the two sides that day, and both would go on to clinch promotion from their respective divisions.

However, since then the two have made very differing starts to life in the women’s second tier.

United came in still unbeaten with four points from two games, while Portsmouth were searching for their first points of the season.

Newcastle started the game much the stronger side with Shania Hayles and Amber Keegan Stobbs both having early chances.

Striker Amy Andrews was the next to have a chance as she cut in from the left to curl an effort from the edge of the area, but it doesn’t dip enough to trouble Annets in the Portsmouth goal.

Rachel Furness came closest to the opening goal when she hit the bar on 26 minutes. The Northern Ireland international tried to direct a rebound goalwards after a Beth Lumsden’s corner had caused the hosts some problems.

Still The Lasses continued to push. Andrews, who was still looking for her first competitive goal was put through twice in a minute. First Rachel Furness threaded a ball through to her but Portsmouth goalie Annets, one of four changes for the home side, reacted quickly to grab the ball at the striker’s feet. Then moments late Shania Hayles set Andrews up with the same result.

Two minutes later and Andrews put the Lasses a goal up. Jas McQuade chipped a pass forward to the striker, who found the net after steering the ball over Annets.

United could have gone in 2-0 up at the break when Hayles knocked down a Beth Lumsden free kick for Andrews, but once again she was foiled by the Portsmouth goalie who put her body in the way to block a fierce effort.

Newcastle goalie Claudia Moan had enjoyed a quiet afternoon up to that point and wasn’t called into action until four minutes into the second half. She was able to deal with a shot on the turn from Emma Jones with ease.

The Lady Mags made a triple change soon after and it nearly paid off when captain Amber Keegan Stobbs played in Katie Barker with a reverse pass but Annets once again dealt with it well. Barker had another chance with 20 minutes to go. Fellow substitute Isabella Sibley broke down the right and crossed low towards the United winger, however, once again Annets was quick off the mark to clear the chance.

Soon after, United had their second goal. A clever ball from a corner saw Sophie Haywood unleash Sibley down the right and her low cross found Jas McQuade, who slotted home into an empty net from three yards out.

In the final minutes Portsmouth continued to push to salvage something from the game. Emily Pitman hit a strike on the volley from the edge of the area but the effort bounced just wide of the goal. Then a minute later Megan Hornby shot a curling left foot effort over Moan, hitting the top of the crossbar and over.

The Newcastle United women’s team now face a first North-East derby of the season with Durham on Sunday.