Newcastle United Women go all out to make Super League – Start season in perfect fashion | OneFootball

Since their last public outing at home to Atletico Madrid in the Sela Cup, Newcastle United Women have been busy on and off the pitch.

A 2-0 reverse behind closed doors at Ashton Gate against Bristol City last week was the final dress rehearsal for a side with promotion on their mind.

They have also added several new players taking their squad up to the 25 limit.

Finnish internationals Anna Tamminen and Oona Sevenius have arrived to provide competition in goal and up front respectively, with the latter having scored for her country during Euro 2025.

Newcastle United Women also announced a trio of loan signings with Dutch goalie Femke Liefting and young right back Jorja Fox coming in from Chelsea. While, Morgan Gautrat arrives from Orlando Pride in America, having twice won the World Cup with Team USA.

Last season Newcastle finished 5th in the Championship. But since then the women’s second tier has gone through something of an overhaul. Re-badged as WSL 2, with two automatic promotion spots now up for grabs. There is also potential for a third promotion spot as the third placed team will face the bottom side from WSL 1 in a play-off, meaning there is no better time for Newcastle to try and clinch promotion.

Their first game of the season saw the Lady Mags travel down to the City Ground to take on a Nottingham Forest side who were newly promoted over the summer and were looking forward to their first ever game at this level. They too had been busy during the off-season, building a strong side of their own.

Newcastle named a 3-5-2 formation, as has been the case during pre-season. Claudia Moan kept her place in goal, with no other goalies named to the bench. Aoife Mannion, made her competitive debut for the club, alongside captain Deanna Cooper and Charlotte Wardlow in a back three. With another summer signing, Jordan Nobbs, out injured, Morgan Gautrat made her debut in a defensive midfield role, with Emma Kelly and debutant Molly Pike playing just in front of her. Beth Lumsden and Freya Gregory played in a deeper wing back role, while Emily Murphy partnered last season’s top scorer Shania Hayles up front.

Match Report

Newcastle made a winning start to their 2025-26 WSL 2 season and couldn’t have been happier with the way they began the game, going ahead in the 7th minute. Ireland international Murphy headed home at the back post from Beth Lumsden’s corner to get their season up and running.

Soon after Murphy tried to play in Hayles who was denied by home goalie Emily Batty. Forest responded well though as they had a 15 minute period where they were asking a lot of questions of United. Striker Aimee Claypole shot wide on the turn, before Freya Thomas saw her snapshot inches away.

But having soaked up that pressure Newcastle came strong again. Emma Kelly hit a powerful drive off the underside of the crossbar from distance in the 25th minute after Molly Pike had directed a Freya Gregory cross into her path.

Gregory, a January signing from Aston Villa, seemed to thrive in her wide position on the left as she sent a series of crosses into the area.

Moments later, the Lasses doubled their advantage. Hayles’ pace down the left caused the Forest backline problems, with the Jamaica international able to cut the ball back from the byline for Pike to find the net at the far post.

Forest ended the half strongly though, and Cooper was forced into making a brave headed block from Amy Rodgers’ powerful strike. The home side continued that positive play into the second half and coupled with making a change, bringing on the impressive Spanish player Nahikari Garcia, they were able to pull a goal back. Kirsty Smith who had looked bright playing down the right side during the first half found the back of the net from Chloe Mustaki’s corner.

Forest continued to pile pressure on the Newcastle defence as Canadian international Deanne Rose and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah both had chances go amiss. Newcastle’s best chance of the half came via a Beth Lumsden free-kick from the edge of the area. However, her powerful effort was claimed by Batty.

Both sides then made a flurry of substitutions which seemed to kill some of the momentum from the game. But Newcastle’s defensive resolve proved to be the difference and they were able to close out the game and collect the much needed three points to open their season in the best possible way.

Newcastle United: Claudia Moan, Aoife Mannion, Deanna Cooper (c), Charlotte Wardlaw, Beth Lumsden (Lia Cataldo 86), Morgan Gautrat, Emma Kelly (Jasmine McQuade 60), Molly Pike (Lois Joel 60), Freya Gregory (Demi Stokes 69), Emily Murphy, Shania Hayles (Oona Sevenius 69).

Subs not used: Małgorzata Grec, Jorja Fox, Amelia Freeman.

Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Kirsty Smith (Caragh Hamilton 68), Jessie Stapleton, Georgia Brougham, Chloe Mustaki (Mollie Green 78), Amy Rodgers, Freya Thomas, Hollie Olding (Nahikari Garcia 46), Deanne Rose (Vivienne Lia 68), Aimee Claypole (Rachel Rowe 62), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.

Subs not used: Sophia Poor, Nat Johnson, Charlie Wellings, Issy Hobson.

Where that leaves NUFC

The Magpies were backed by an impressive travelling support of around 200 fans and took to the pitch sporting their blue third kit.

Of their 10 summer signings, four made their debuts; Aoife Mannion, Morgan Gautrat and Molly Pike all started with Oona Sevenius coming on in the second half. Sevenius already seems to be a firm fan favourite after the fans serenaded her with her own song after the final whistle and the Finnish striker lapping up the affection. A further two players; Małgorzata Grec and Jorja Fox remained on the bench as unused subs. Both new goalies weren’t named to the squad, while Jordan Nobbs and Jemma Purfield were both unavailable due to injury.

Newcastle are one of six teams tied on three points after the first round of games after local rivals Sunderland and Durham both won on the road and promotion rivals Birmingham City clinched a convincing win over Bristol City. Crystal Palace, who are also expected to be up at the top, lost out in the South London derby to Charlton and Southampton claimed an impressive win over newly promoted Ipswich.

What’s coming up

Next up is their first home game against Sheffield United at Gateshead International Stadium next weekend (2pm kick-off – Sunday 14 September). It will be the first time the Lady Mags have played at that venue since a cup tie with Stoke City in December 2023 and the first since the club announced their permanent move there from Kingston Park.