Battle to a point at Bramall Lane – Newcastle United Women’s team | OneFootball

Newcastle United Women had to battle hard to come away from Bramall Lane with a point on Sunday, with yet more injury problems mounting up.

A late change to the line up saw Hannah Greenwood come into the back four for Deanna Cooper, who was injured during the warm up.

And if ever a warm-up was needed it was Sunday. Arctic conditions greeted the travelling Toon Army as they made their way down to the Steel City.

Having arrived at Bramall Lane around an hour before kick-off, you would have been forgiven for thinking the game had been called off. The cold weather kept most of the locals indoors.

But as I made my way around the back of the Kop on Shoreham Street I could make out a faint sound of the music coming from the PA system, before a much louder ‘Toon, Toon, Black and White Army!’ Our lot were here and were in fine voice. Once inside the stadium, there was a buzz surrounding the latest transfer activity this week, with two announced and more on the way.

Both sets of fans were placed in the Tony Currie Stand, while the other three sides were empty. However, the travelling hordes of Black and White outnumbered the home support by some margin. It goes without saying that Newcastle out-sung the other United, with the Blades only making any noise when berating the referee for a non-penalty call and then booing the poor guy as he headed off down the tunnel.

Perhaps with so much on the line though, you can afford the home side some sympathy. Languishing second bottom in the table meant they needed every point they could get. That meant the game became a battle at times and was more a case of Sheffield’s desperation outmatching Newcastle’s aspiration.

Whatever the reason, this was a much different side to the one the Lasses saw off in September, both physically and metaphorically. A change of shape and personnel including their three new signings, saw the Blades pose much more of a threat, although Alyssa Aherne missed out after a knock on her return during the week. But if they play every game the way they did on Sunday, there is no question of them being relegated.

A tentative start saw Newcastle carve out for the first meaningful chance. Katie Barker sent a cross from the left towards goal, finding Jas McQuade who had set her away during the build-up. But last week’s cup hero saw her effort blocked on the line twice from close range. Before Isabella Sibley could only tap the rebound into the hands of Blades goalie Sian Rogers, who returned in goal for the first time since before Christmas.

But soon after the Blades carved open their first chance of the game from a corner, following a positive period of attacking play. It fell to the unmarked Satara Murray but the captain headed over the crossbar as she got under the ball.

Newcastle responded through Shania Hayles who sent a powerful half volley on the turn towards goal but a good save from Rogers saw her push the effort away. While, captain Amber Keegan-Stobbs was proving to be Newcastle’s most creative threat. Her excellent deep ball from the right was swung in to find Barker however she was unable to connect strongly enough with her effort.

Most of Newcastle’s chances were landing at the feet of Jas McQuade. She tried to curl one effort goalwards from the edge of the area after a Demi Stokes free kick was cleared to her. But it lacked the power to properly test Rogers. Soon after she had another chance, when Barker’s cross from the right was cleared to the edge of the area, and fell to her. However, the ball never sat up for McQuade which saw her effort high of the target.

Seconds later Demi Stokes had the chance to shoot from the right of the area, but the excellent Fallon Connolly-Jackson closed her down and blocked the shot away.

Former Sunderland and Durham midfielder Maria Farrugia, started to show her influence on the game, seeing one effort blocked after dancing past a couple of challenges, before seeing her effort from the edge of the box blocked.

Then with five minutes to half time, the Maltese international produced a great solo run from the left before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful dipping strike from the edge of the ‘D’ and over the outstretched Claudia Moan in the Newcastle goal. The effort cannoned back off the crossbar, leaving it shaking for seconds afterwards as the Newcastle defence struggled to contain her.

Two minutes later, she tried again this time with a sweeping effort from inside the area. However it was well blocked by Newcastle debutant Charlotte Wardlaw who got herself in the way.

Farrugia went close again just after the break when a dipping half volley towards the top corner was brilliantly pushed over by Moan who had to dive at full stretch.

Sheffield’s new signing Issy Hobson, saved the day at the other end after denying both Barker and McQuade. First she brilliantly nicked the ball away after Barker slid the ball past an on-rushing Rogers. Before she blocked a goal bound effort when McQuade almost capitalised on a defensive mix-up at the back with Rogers out of her goal.

Poppy Pritchard arrived into the game on the hour mark and with her first touch, delivered the ball of the game with a perfect deep cross to fellow substitute Amy Andrews who was unmarked but had her shot blocked. Sensing the threat Poppy’s pace would pose, Blades defender Olivia Page came across to closely mark her.

But as the game entered the final 20 minutes, Newcastle began to increase the pressure. McQuade set Poppy away down the left again, with another dangerous cross, finding Hayles. But brave defending saw the home side block the chance.

Hobson was then joined by fellow Everton loanee Ellie Jones who made her own first Bramall Lane appearance, and minutes later the deadlock was broken when Wardlaw was unfortunate to see a strong back pass mis controlled by Moan. Carrying some speed to get around the pressing Eva Butler, the ball rolled into the back of the net to give the Blades the lead. For those who can remember it, think Peter Enckelman!

Not the debut Charlotte Wardlaw was looking for, especially against the side she just left. However, Newcastle pushed for an instant reply. Andrews cut in from the right, but her left-footed effort went straight to Rogers. Then after Sheffield failed to clear a ball into the box, two Newcastle players attacked it, but the chance fell wide of the goal.

Newcastle pushed again, breaking at pace from a Sheffield corner. Rachel Furness, who came on as substitute with former Blade Sophie Haywood, played a high ball into the area, which dropped for Andrews, who stabbed wide. Then the Northern Ireland International’s header across goal was deflected by Greenwood, but Rogers fingertips deflected it behind for a corner.

But inside the first minute of stoppage time, United’s and Furness’ pressure paid off. A deep cross from Lois Joel towards the back post was met by Furness who rose highest to loop a header over the despairing Blades defenders and into the far corner. It was her first goal for the club and what a time to score it!

A minute later Blades substitute Liv Edwards was brought down by Moan. However, the United goalie touched the ball first and despite loud protests from the home bench and the crowd, the referee waved away the appeals.

In the end, a draw was a fair result. Both sides had chances denied by some incredible saves by Sian Rogers and Claudia Moan in what was a frantic and feisty affair. It was a first point of the season at Bramall Lane for the Blades while Newcastle have lost only once from six league away games.

Newcastle United: Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo, Hannah Greenwood, Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Lois Joel, Jasmine McQuade (Rachel Furness 80), Isabella Sibley (Poppy Pritchard 60), Shania Hayles (Sophie Haywood 81), Katie Barker (Amy Andrews 60)