Setback at St Andrew’s – Birmingham City victory over Newcastle United Women | OneFootball

Having dropped two points at home to Sheffield United last time out, Newcastle Unite women headed into their promotion battle with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s looking to take an early advantage.

During the week, Birmingham posted on their social media how they wanted to make the game a statement for their own chances to go up. You could probably say it worked.

Head of Women’s Football Su Cumming announced her retirement from her role at the end of September after nearly a decade of service with the club.

Femke Liefting started in goal for her Newcastle debut, while Jordan Nobbs and Morgan Gautrat came back into the side, with the former making her competitive bow. In all there were six changes from last week’s draw at Gateshead with captain Demi Stokes, Finnish striker Oona Sevenius and Lia Cataldo starting along with Liefting, Nobbs and Gautrat.

Before the game kicked off, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed by both sets of teams and supporters, in honour of former Liverpool and West Ham Manager Matt Beard and former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack.

Match Report

Birmingham made a flying start at St Andrew’s, dominating possession and controlling the game from the opening whistle. They tested Femke Liefting from close range two minutes in, but the young keeper saved well with her legs. While, Lily Crosthwaite found Veatriki Sarri with a great cross, but her effort drifted wide.

United looked to have carved an opening just two minutes later when Emily Murphy ran from her own half unchallenged to the Birmingham box, but a last-ditch Neve Herron slide tackle stopped her from getting a shot off.

However, that sustained pressure soon told when Amy Merrick’s side took the lead on nine minutes. Christie Harrison-Murray won the ball high up the pitch, after Newcastle tried to play out from the back, and teed up Veatriki Sarri, who unleashed a stunning low left-footed strike from 25 yards into the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.

Five minutes later, the Blues doubled their advantage. Rebecca McKenna surged down the right and swung in a dangerous low cross that Aoife Mannion could only shank skywards. The ball fell perfectly to Batcheba Louis who met it sweetly on the volley, driving it low into the bottom left corner.

Newcastle struggled to settle but carved out their first real chance on the half-hour mark. Molly Pike’s cross found captain Demi Stokes, unmarked at the back post. But despite her thunderous shot beating Lucy Thomas in the Blues goal, her effort was well blocked by McKenna.

Four minutes later Emily Murphy showed good strength down the right flank before picking out Oona Sevenius, whose first-time touch teed up Pike, but her effort was comfortably saved by Thomas.

Birmingham remained a constant threat and forced a good save from Liefting, as she turned a powerful effort from Louis away at close range for a corner. McKenna’s first delivery wasn’t sufficiently cleared, allowing the hosts to recycle the ball. Her second cross picked out Lily Crosthwaite, who with a perfect flick of her toes, slammed home her effort into the far corner and past Liefting.

Rebecca Holloway went close to adding a fourth before the interval, but her strike from distance whistled just over.

Three goals down at the break, Jordan Nobbs made way for Jas McQuade.

But the second half began in similar fashion. Crosthwaite’s persistence opened space on the flank and she found Sarri, who fired into the net, only to be denied by the offside flag. Sarri would flash narrowly wide again soon after.

Newcastle grabbed a goal back on the hour mark. A well-won header by Charlotte Wardlaw set Oona Sevenius free down the left. The Finnish International’s great cross was met by Jas McQuade’s late run into the box, and the substitute was able to head home past Thomas for 3-1. Moments later, Emily Murphy broke through, but Thomas raced out bravely to smother the danger.

Birmingham restored their three goal advantage on 71 minutes. A loose pass from Lois Joel fell to Océane Hurtré, who struck first time to claim her first goal for the hosts and make it 4–1.

Soon after Newcastle made a triple change with Cooper, Sevenius and Cataldo replaced by Beth Lumsden, Malgorzata Grec, and Jorga Fox. The latter pair making their competitive debuts for Newcastle.

Lumsden was played in with a great through ball from Molly Pike with 10 minutes to go but she couldn’t connect on the pass. However, she would have the final word with 3 minutes to go. A Murphy shot cannoned off the crossbar and, with Birmingham unable to clear, Lumsden pounced to fire home her first goal of the season.

Newcastle United: Femke Liefting, Aoife Mannion, Deanna Cooper (Malgorata Grec, 76), Charlotte Wardlaw, Lia Cataldo (Jorja Fox, 76), Jordan Nobbs (Jasmine McQuad, 46), Morgan Gautrat (Lois Joel, 66), Molly Pike, Demi Stokes (captain), Oona Sevenius (Beth Lumsden, 76), Emily Murphy.

Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Shania Hayles, Freya Gregory.

Birmingham City: Lucy Thomas, Rebecca Holloway, Neve Herron, Shannon Cooke, Rebecca McKenna, Christie Harrison-Murray (captain) (Libby Bance, 85), Ji Soyun (Lucy Quinn, 65), Chelsea Cornet, Veatriki Sarri, Batcheba Louis (Océane Hurtré, 65), Lily Crosthwaite (Ava Baker, 85).

Subs not used: Adrianna Franch, Martha Harris, Lucy Newell, Tegan McGowan, Riya Mannu.

Attendance: 1,358

Where that leaves Newcastle United Women

Having taken four points off Birmingham last season, a heavy defeat at St Andrews wasn’t well received by the Newcastle fans. Losing to a direct promotion rival didn’t help either. But the reality is we are 3 games into the season and with plenty of football to be played before May everyone needs to calm down.

Newcastle sit in mid-table ahead of next weekend’s game.

What’s coming up

Newcastle’s league cup campaign gets underway on Wednesday night when they travel to Mansfield Town’s Field Mill Ground to take on Nottingham Forest for the second time this month. Having taken the league clash 2-1 Newcastle will start as favourites in the opening group game.

Then Sunday sees league action return to Gateshead when Charlton Athletic come to visit in what is now becoming a must win game.