Cruel penalty shootout but still a great point for Newcastle United women’s team v Everton | OneFootball

The Newcastle United women’s team made their first ever appearance in the Women’s League Cup on Wednesday night, as they hosted WSL side Everton under the floodlights at Kingston Park.

A crowd of 1,379 were there to witness one of the best 45 minutes of football the Lasses have played.

Considering this was a school night, and a fair proportion of the match going crowd are kids, this wasn’t a bad attendance at all.

Included in the crowd was my cousin Keith who regularly attends the games with his wife Helen. The pair were certainly in for a treat against an Everton side that boasted several internationals in their line-up.

Before the game both Katie Barker and Grace Donnelly were presented with an award for their 100th club appearances, while Jas McQuade was named the first ever Sela Women’s player of the month. Just reward and recognition for her form during the opening weeks of the new campaign.

Newcastle started well and took an early lead, just five minutes in. Sophie Haywood, one of six changes from the side that won at Portsmouth at the weekend, seemed to relish leading the line up front and played a delightful low cross over from the right. Left-back Demi Stokes arrived onto it with a late run into the box and crashed the ball home into the bottom corner for her first Newcastle goal.

Haywood continued to impress, along with winger Isabella Sibley, in pressing the Everton defence at every opportunity. In fact the Hull-born forward even managed to frustrate Toffees defender Megan Finnigan into pulling her back and earning the game’s first booking.

Sibley was equally productive down the right. Firstly, her persistence produced a great cross over to Katie Barker who uncharacteristically blasted over, before her quick feet forced Everton defender Lucy Hope into clattering into her to stop her progress.

Everton tried to respond but their best attacks were limited to Sara Holmgaard’s surges down the left flank and a shot across the face of goal from an acute angle by Emma Bissell. At the other end, Issy Hobson was still trying to get to grips with an energetic United front three as the home side continued to search for a much needed second goal.

With half-time approaching, Newcastle won a corner and the first chance for the crowd to air the ‘On Yer Heed’ chant, which has become part of the match day routine.

Everton had one last chance of the first half when Greek winger Veatriki Sarri switched flanks to play down the left and after finding joy down that side, wrapped her foot around the ball to get a low drive at goal.

Everton made a change at the break, bringing on Clare Wheeler to sit in midfield and try to prevent Newcastle’s Jas McQuade from pulling the strings in the final third. With the substitution, came a slight change to Everton’s shape and it made a huge difference to the Merseysiders as they kept possession of the ball. Emma Bissell bundled home the equaliser seven minutes into the second half following that early pressure.

Katie Barker nearly got an instant response for the Lasses though, doing well to get her shot off when put under pressure. Soon after, Everton’s Sarri floated in a cross that was almost turned home by Karoline Olesen on the stretch.

Both sides continued to search for the winner right up to the final whistle. United substitutes, Amy Andrews and Emma Kelly, the latter making a welcomed return to the team after starting the season injured, linked up well with Sibley for Elysia Boddy to strike at goal, only to be denied by Everton goalie Courtney Brosnan.

Soon after, a Newcastle free-kick was worked to Georgia Gibson from the left wing, with the midfielder’s dipping volley on the turn, tipped over by Brosnan at full stretch. The resulting corner was then scrambled away by the visitors.

Further changes from Everton seemed to be working well for them too. Heather Payne burst down the right and managed to float a lofted ball into the area, with Katja Snoeijs meeting the cross, but failing to trouble Lasses goalie Hannah Hawkins with her header. Moments later Sarri rifled a low drive just wide from inside the area. While Elise Stenevik cut in before unleashing a powerful strike that was also saved.

With two minutes of stoppage time played, Everton had the best chance yet when a Clare Wheeler corner was delivered inch-perfect to Stenevik who sent a header off the bar. Thankfully the ball rebounded into Hawkins gloves.

Myself and cousin Keith

And so onto penalties. As part of the League Cup Group Stage format, both teams receive a point for a draw after 90 minutes, with a bonus point then played for via a shootout. Everton went first, with Justine Vanhaevermaet, Snoeijs and Finnigan all scoring. However, Everton’s Courtney Brosnan came up with massive saves to deny Andrews, Gibson twice after she had to retake and Rachel Furness.

Bit of a shame the game ended that way, especially after how strong the Lasses played during the 90 minutes, but it’s another positive, a point taken off a team from a higher league and a performance that shows Newcastle are a WSL team in waiting.

Newcastle United:

Hannah Hawkins, Liv Watt, Charlotte Potts, Rachel Furness, Demi Stokes (Lois Joel 65), Amber-Keegan Stobbs (Elysia Boddy 56), Hannah Greenwood (Georgia Gibson 74), Isabella Sibley, Jasmine McQuade (Amy Andrews 65), Katie Barker, Sophie Haywood (Emma Kelly 74).

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly, Shania Hayles, Kacie Elson, Deanna Cooper.

Everton:

Courney Brosnan, Lucy Hope (Heather Payne), Megan Finnigan, Issy Hobson, Emma Bissell (Katja Snoeijs), Sara Holmgaard (Justine Vanhaevermaet), Lauren Thomas (Clare Wheeler), Honoka Hayashi (Elise Stenevik), Toni Payne, Karoline Olsesen, Veatriki Sarri