Newcastle United Women get big 4-1 away win in promotion push | OneFootball

The post Becky Langley-era at Newcastle United women got underway on Sunday with a visit to the Jobserve Community Stadium in Colchester to take on newly promoted side Ipswich Town.

Given the distance, only the most committed of fans travelled to East Anglia to make up part of the 1,396 crowd.

Many of the squad had been away on international duty during the previous fortnight.

Aoife Mannion and Emily Murphy were both part of the Republic of Ireland side that gained promotion in the UEFA Nations League after their play-off with Belgium. Jas McQuade and Charlotte Wardlaw featured for Scotland U23s in games against Sweden and Italy. Femke Liefting played for the Netherlands Under-21s as they drew 2-2 with Italy. Freya Gregory was part of the Scotland senior side that faced Morocco and Switzerland in back-to-back friendly matches, and Lois Joel was called up by Wales but didn’t feature in either game.

Sela Player of the Month for October, Oona Sevenius, was named in the Finland senior squad ahead of their UEFA Women’s Nations League play-off double header against Denmark, but only played the final 30 minutes of their second leg defeat.

Oona Sevenius arriving (Thanks to Jamie Gallon for the photo)

In her first game as interim manager, Claire Ditchburn made four changes from United’s previous league game with Bristol City. Charlotte Wardlaw came in at right back for Lia Cataldo, with Elyssia Boddy, Freya Gregory and Shania Hayles starting in place of Morgan Gautrat, Lois Joel and Emily Murphy.

Match Report

The game started off as an even affair with both teams sharing possession but sprung into life when a smart ball over the top from Ipswich’s Paige Peake found Sophie Peskett down the right. Her ball into the centre found Aoife Mannion but Rianna Dean’s tackle almost caught Femke Liefting out in the opposition goal.

A minute later, Newcastle had their first opportunity as Molly Pike played in Oona Sevenius down the right. As the Finnish international cut onto her left foot her strike was deflected just wide. Maddy Earl did really well down the left wing five minutes later for the home side as she beat her marker with a neat turn but her cutback into a crowded area could only find a Newcastle player.

The visiting side’s breaks forward were starting to cause problems. Ipswich goalie Natalia Negri’s first save was a fairly comfortable one to deny Freya Gregory in the 25th minute. That was followed soon after by a Shania Hayles shot that was deflected wide. From that corner, Aoife Mannion headed just over.

Sevenius continued to pose the biggest threat for United. After being set up by Hayles, she hooked a powerful effort goalwards from a tight angle, But Negri got a hand on the strike, before having to backpedal to push it clear off the line.

A couple of minutes later, Jordan Nobbs raced forward and found Gregory to her left who was denied by a good save from Negri, but five minutes before the break, Newcastle’s pressure paid off and they took the lead.

After Ipswich lost the ball in midfield, Hayles broke toward the box. Her clever ball out to the left found Nobbs in space. Hayles continued her run to meet the ball into the middle and scored via the post.

The second half saw a dominant performance from Newcastle. They made it 2-0 five minutes after the restart. Molly Pike did well in the build-up exchanging passes with Jordan Nobbs before picking out Gregory at the back post. The winger then unselfishly set up Hayles to tap home from close range.

But within three minutes Ipswich pulled one back. Paige Peake’s free-kick was parried by Femke Liefting and Kyra Robertson was on hand to lob the rebound past a last-ditch attempt from Mannion on the line.

Newcastle soon restored their two goal margin though. Gregory did well to beat substitute Grace Neville before whipping in a great cross. Sevenius flicked on for Molly Pike to volley home at the back post.

Town were still looking to push forward as the game entered the closing stages and Rianna Dean had a good opportunity after being found by Natasha Thomas on the edge of the box she beat Deanna Cooper before being denied by a good save.

As the game entered the final minutes Beth Lumsden created a chance for Stokes, who fired over. Before Emily Murphy glanced a header home from another Lumsden cross.

In stoppage time Jemma Purfield came on for her long awaited debut, having missed the start of the season due to injury.

Thanks to Jamie Gallon for the photo

Final Score: Ipswich Town Women 1 Newcastle United Women 4

Newcastle United: Femke Liefting, Charlotte Wardlaw, Aoife Mannion, Deanna Cooper, Demi Stokes (c) (Jemma Purfield 90+2), Jordan Nobbs, Elysia Boddy (Emily Murphy 63), Molly Pike (Jasmine McQuade 90+2), Oona Sevenius, Shania Hayles (Emma Kelly 82), Freya Gregory (Beth Lumsden 82).

Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Małgorzata Grec, Lia Cataldo

Ipswich Town: Natalia Negri, Leah Mitchell (Grace Neville, 59), Maria Boswell (c), Paige Peake, Summer Hughes (Ruby Seaby, 84), Kyra Robertson (Ruby Doe, 59), Charlotte Fleming (Megan Wearing, 70), Sophie Peskett, Jenna Dear, Maddy Earl (Natasha Thomas, 59), Rianna Dean.

Subs not used: Laura Hartley, Shauna Guyatt, Kaci-Jai Bonwick.

Where that leaves Newcastle United Women

Newcastle extended their current unbeaten run to four games across all competitions. The win over Ipswich sees them climb to sixth in the table having played seven of their 22 league games.

What’s coming up

More than 10,000 tickets have now been sold for the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland. The Lasses return to St. James’ Park on Sunday, 16th November to take on the Black Cats as they look to make it back-to-back wins at home against local rivals.

The Lasses are participating in the Fan Choice and Alcohol in the Bowl project, which allows fans to drink alcohol while watching the game.

Tickets are now on general sale, priced at just £8.50 for adults and £3 for juniors.

Before that they visit another local rival in Durham where they play at Maiden Castle this coming Sunday.