Newcastle United Women’s team win five goal thriller | OneFootball

Newcastle United women got back to winning ways in the Barclays Women’s Championship on Sunday, when they saw off a spirited Portsmouth side 3-2.

A crowd of 3,011 made it to Kingston Park, in what were freezing conditions, with a second half downpour not helping. However, there was at least alcohol on hand. The club trialling a new initiative which means alcoholic drinks are now allowed in the stands.

Wor Flags had a spectacular display going in the West Stand with two huge banners which covered most of the seats, while at pitchside an impressive Beth Lumsden flag got an airing.

United manager Becky Langley named latest signing Freya Gregory to the starting line-up but had to be without Poppy Pritchard who was injured in training during the week, meaning the loan signing missed out on making her home debut after a thrilling cameo down in Sheffield the week before.

Portsmouth last visited Tyneside in February when they were defeated thanks to a late goal by Georgia Gibson at St James Park. The goal sent Newcastle to the National League Cup Final.

Since then both sides have earned promotion to the Championship, but whereas Newcastle have become well established in the league and are one of the promotion contenders, Pompey have been at the foot of the table since week one. Full credit goes to the pocket of Portsmouth fans who made the 700 mile round trip. They certainly made themselves heard with regular renditions of ‘Play Up Pompey’ during the game.

But with half a season to play, and the South Coast side battling to stay in the division, it meant they couldn’t be written off. Their manager Jay Sadler made three changes from the previous week. Emma Thompson was handed a full debut up front, while there were returns for Annie Hutchings and Emma Jones, as Erin McLaughlin, Lily Dent and Meg Hornby made way.

Clearcut chances were proving to be few and far between during the opening 20 minutes, as both sides battled for possession in midfield.

Newcastle did carve out a chance in the first minute though, after some good work from Gregory on the left saw her send in a dangerous cross. However, Amber Keegan-Stobbs header was blocked and Deanna Cooper’s effort to fire the ball back in was cleared.

Portsmouth’s one chance came 10 minutes later when Sophie Quirk received the ball on the turn and fed Emma Thompson, whose shot from 20 yards was saved.

With 20 minutes played, United created their second chance. Jas McQuade stealing the ball off an opponent inside the final third before advancing and shooting straight at Hannah Poulter in the Portsmouth goal.

But minutes later the home side would get the breakthrough. Shania Hayles controlled Freya Gregory’s pass perfectly to come inside the Portsmouth defender, and fire a shot past Poulter and inside the far post.

Having finally got that breakthrough the Lady Mags almost grabbed a second moments later. A deflected cross fell to Portsmouth’s Georgia Freeland, whose sliced clearance came back off the bar and into Poulter’s arms.

There was a moment of concern before half time when Poulter needed treatment following a collision with Hayles, although the keeper was thankfully able to continue.

Pompey thought they had levelled just before half time when Emma Thompson had the ball in the net after a low cross from Sophie Quirk, but the offside flag went up.

Newcastle started brighter in the second half. Gregory sent a short corner from Demi Stokes straight into the arms of Poulter after cutting in. Before Deanna Cooper nodded a Stokes corner narrowly wide.

The Lasses doubled their lead soon after. Hayles raced in behind the defence and found the target with a left-footed shot which went across goal for her second of the game.

She might have grabbed her second hat trick of the season soon after when she sliced a half volley from Katie Barker’s cross, narrowly wide.

Having been injured in the warm up last weekend, it was a welcome sight to see Deanna Cooper return. However, she made way for Hannah Greenwood on 53 Minutes which coincided with Portsmouth getting a foothold back in the game.

Pompey captain Sophie Barker sliced a volley wide of the post, but it did not take long for the deficit to be reduced.

On the hour mark, Newcastle gave away a needless free kick right on the edge of the box which Sophie Quirk curled into the bottom corner of the net.

That galvanised Pompey and they looked a continued threat from set pieces. They were level four minutes later when a Georgie Freeland corner was glanced home at the near post by Riva Casley.

Seconds before the Portsmouth equaliser Newcastle could have gone 3-1 ahead. Gregory did well down the left, bringing the ball from the halfway line before whipping in a cross from the byline to Lois Joel. However her effort was palmed away by Poulter, who reacted brilliantly to stop McQuade’s close range follow-up. Gergory would make way soon after with a slight injury scare to add to the ever growing list Newcastle have right now.

But having been pegged back level it was all Newcastle pressure as they searched for a winner. Some good build up play on the edge of the area saw Joel setup Stokes, who took a touch before firing home through a crowded area. Her effort took a huge deflection to help it past Poulter.

Newcastle could have made the game safe ten minutes later with the move of the game. Claudia Moan’s ball out to Joel, was knocked down for Cataldo who in turn found Barker on the left. The Wallsend-born winger cut inside and chipped the ball up for late substitute Rachel Furness on the edge of the area, but last week’s hero was unable to direct her volley on target.

Portsmouth were not making it easy. Fighting hard in an attempt to find another equaliser. A series of corners causing Newcastle problems. The closest they came to levelling was when Georgie Freeland’s corner found its way to Annie Hutchings on the edge of the box, whose shot was tipped onto the bar by Moan. United’s goalie also kept out McLaughlin’s late header to ensure the points stayed on Tyneside.

The race for the sole promotion spot couldn’t be more open, with the top seven separated by only four points. Newcastle United Women have a game in hand on five of the six above and if winning that would be only one point off current top placed Birmingham.

United are exactly halfway through their league season and their destiny is very much in their own hands, in terms of promotion to the top tier.

How the current Women’s Championship table currently stand (Wednesday 29 January 2025):

Newcastle United:

Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo, Deanna Cooper (Hannah Greenwood 53), Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Lois Joel, Jasmine McQuade (Rachel Furness 75), Katie Barker, Shania Hayles, Freya Gregory (Amy Andrews 67)

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly, Hannah Hawkins, Isabella Sibley, Sophie Haywood

Portsmouth: