Not so lucky seven at St James’ Park for Newcastle United Women’s team – Or perhaps it was… | OneFootball

Last month, the Newcastle United Women’s team in the end held on for a 3-3 draw with Charlton, that felt more like a defeat after leading for most of the game.

However, it was a case of roles reversed on Sunday, when they snatched a 99th minute equaliser, which felt more like a win.

A total of 11,620 fans made their way to St James’ Park on Sunday, with this being the seventh competitive game the Lady Mags have played there.

They had won on every single previous occasion going into this clash but visitors Southampton looked to evoke some unwanted memories from previous clashes with their men’s team.

Even now, I can still see Matt Le Tissier flicking the ball over Barry Venison before volleying home a goal of the season, with the Guernsey-born forward being the scourge of Newcastle on every visit here.

Newcastle Manager Becky Langley made changes to the side from last week’s defeat at Bristol. With Olivia Watt unlucky to lose her place in the back four, recalls for Katie Barker and Amber Keegan Stobbs. The team started with what was essentially a 4-1-4-1 without the ball and a 3-2-2-3 with it. Lois Joel was tasked with switching between right back and midfield between those two formations.

Southampton made much the brighter start and that wasn’t entirely down to their new pink shirts that were making their debut. Their front three had pace to burn and were causing Newcastle’s defence problems right from the off. United defender Deanna Cooper was forced into sliding in to make a vital stop, as Rachel Rowe tried to pick out Saints striker Molly Pike at close range.

By the seventh minute Southampton had the lead. After Pike caused more problems at the back, Freya Gregory nipped in and with an audacious challenge, stole possession off United goalie Claudia Moan before calmly rolling the ball into an empty net to give her side the lead. It was a brilliant piece of improvisation, with Southampton one step ahead.

The visitors should have doubled their advantage soon after when an audacious attempt from Molly Pike was tipped onto the bar thanks to an excellent Moan save.

Southampton’s midfield three were winning every battle and dominating the game. Aimee Palmer never lost a tackle all game, which included putting a great block in on Demi Stokes after the England left back had worked hard to create a shooting opportunity. While Chloe Peplow was excellent in a deeper role, impressively still able to produce quality passes forward even when put under pressure or outnumbered by Newcastle’s press. That allowed Lucia Kendall to join the attack more just behind the front three.

The Saints impressive performance and early lead had quietened the crowd at SJP. In fact, it was so quiet you could hear their players shouting instructions to one another. But Newcastle forward Katie Barker soon brought the crowd back into the game after she went on a great run, where she rode three challenges before shooting from just outside the area, with her effort coming back off the bar.

Soon after, Liv Watt was brought on for the injured Charlotte Potts, but with the veteran defender off, Deanna Cooper rolled up her sleeves and decided she was going to provide the kind of leadership at the back which we have become used to seeing from Pottsy.

Southampton were not easing off though, as Claudia Moan had to make two great saves in quick succession. First tipping away a cross from Gregory, before holding onto Rowe’s curled effort from the edge of the area.

Beth Lumsden, who was having a fascinating battle down the flank with Saints right back Milly Mott, played a clever ball inside for Shania Hayles, who having opted not to shoot earlier, waited too long and in the end Southampton Captain Jemma Purfield was able to block the effort. Considering the form Hayles has been in this season, a lot of credit should go to Southampton’s central defensive partnership of Purfield and Tara Bourne for keeping her quiet.

With five minutes to half time, Cooper had to make another important clearance, going full-stretch to head Gregory’s cross away with Rowe waiting at the back post.

Perhaps Newcastle were lucky to get to half time still only one goal down. They had come up against a team who had put in the most dominant and complete halves of football against them this season.

Southampton’s energy continued into the second half, with player of the game Freya Gregory putting on a masterclass. First there was a no look pass which saw her collect the return before delivering a dangerous cross into the area. Then there was a lovely back heel to start another attack before sending in another pair of great crosses. The on-loan Aston Villa winger looked classy throughout and her wand of a left foot had many inside St James’ Park calling for her to be the club’s next new signing. Gregory even had time to come back to the halfway line while her team had a corner, simply to deal with the pace Newcastle’s Isabella Sibley could pose on a counter.

Megan Collett was another to frustrate United and in particular Sibley, who she forced out wide and never allowed past all game. While even the referee seemed to be dazzled by Southampton’s enterprising play when she awarded them a corner that even the Saints players seemed surprised about. It saw Deanna Cooper clear a chance off the line with a great header, from that corner.

The game perhaps started to swing back towards the Lady Mags on the hour mark. Bringing Elysia Boddy and Amy Andrews on and changing the shape to 3-5-2. Within minutes Stobbs curled a chance just wide of the post from the edge of the area. Before Andrews drifted past Purfield, as she cut in from the right, before teeing up Jas McQuade to shoot a dipping effort, which forced Saints goalie Fran Stenson into making a big save to turn the effort over the bar.

Molly Pike’s pace continued to be a problem for Newcastle with Sibley forced into pulling her back to prevent her getting away. But United soon found fresh impetus again when Beth Lumsden got inside Mott before firing a low cross in front of goal. However, Andrews couldn’t quite connect.

Southampton opted to make a change which further tipped the balance in Newcastle’s favour. Taking off the dominant Palmer in midfield for an extra defender, but crucially moving Collett over to the right to double up on Lumsden. It played perfectly into United’s hands, almost inviting them to attack.

With eight additional minutes, there was plenty of time to test their resolve. Boddy sent in a deep cross to Andrews, but she couldn’t get enough power on her header to test Stenson with six minutes of stoppage time played.

But United, and Deanna Cooper in particular were not going to give up. The defender carried the ball forward out of defence and won her team a corner in the 99th minute. With the delivery coming in, Stenson punched clear. Only as far as Sibley who executed a fierce volley which cannoned back off Katie Barker. Sibley went again, side-stepping an onrushing Pike, collected her own rebound off Alice Griffiths, before looping a header towards Rachel Brown who blasted her clearance against Boddy. The final rebound fell perfectly at the feet of Cooper who scooped the ball past a shell-shocked Stenson for an unbelievable latest of late goals. Needless to say, the Gallowgate erupted!

There was just time for the kick-off to take place before the final whistle.

Should Southampton have won? Probably.

Did Newcastle get lucky? Maybe.

But after some questionable calls from the referee (a phantom Southampton corner and possibly a penalty for Sophie Haywood), we will take this and the point that comes with it.

Claudia Moan, Lois Joel (Elysia Boddy 61), Charlotte Potts (Liv Watt 30), Deanna Cooper, Demi Stokes, Amber-Keegan Stobbs, Jasmine McQuade (Sophie Haywood 84), Isabella Sibley, Katie Barker, Beth Lumsden, Shania Hayles (Amy Andrews 61)