Newcastle draw Burnley or Nottingham Forest after Wor Lasses win FA Cup tie
A goal in each half from the versatile Hannah Greenwood at Kingston Park on Sunday afternoon was enough to send Newcastle United Women through to the 4th Round of The Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the second successive season.
The 2 – 0 win over local rivals Middlesbrough Women was obtained with a professionally put together performance that was a lot more comfortable than the final score-line indicated.
‘Boro who travelled up from Teesside to Tyneside having only lost once in Division One North all season included no less than six former Lady Mags in their starting XI. But although the Tier 4 visitors put in a spirited display they were always second best on the day.
How Newcastle beat Boro
United two tiers above and consolidating nicely in The Barclays Championship mixed their XI with regular first-choice players and gave valuable minutes to injury returnees and fringe players in well-balanced line-up.
It included Greenwood playing in the midfield anchor role in the first half before stepping back into the centre of defence for the second 45 minutes in a Player of the Game performance throughout the 90 minutes.
United were delighted to see Lia Cataldo back in their ranks for the first time this season and they got a good 45-minute shift from the classy defender. Deanna Cooper the late-goal hero of the Southampton St. James Park draw also got a useful 45 minutes under her belt following injury.
But it was Greenwood who proved to be the difference between the two sides on the day after Jess Mett had given United a real scare with the first chance of the game. The Boro forward seeing her effort beat Claudia Moan but roll along the line and past the far post.
Newcastle were in control for lengthy periods after that but couldn’t really turn their possession into clear cut chances until the 42ndminute. Katie Barker receiving Demi Stokes’ quickly taken corner on the byline.
Barker cut inside superbly and unleashed a fierce right foot angled drive that Laura Wareham in the ‘Boro goal couldn’t hold on to and there was Greenwood inside the six-yard box to smash it home from close range.
One-nil up at the half, Wor Lasses continued to dominate in the second period and despite a plethora of substitutions were still well in control although they had to wait until the 82nd minute to seal the deal.
Before that second goal arrived ex-United midfielder Millie Bell did have a goal ruled out for Middlesbrough having just strayed offside before she planted a neat volley past Moan only to see the flag go up correctly.
United’s second came from an Emma Kelly corner to the back post. Substitute Georgia Gibson had her effort blocked. The ball falling to Amy Andrews who also saw her effort blocked by a ‘Boro defender.
But the second rebound fell at the feet of Greenwood who hit a crisp low right-foot half volley into the bottom corner giving Wareham no chance at all. The Teessiders had no answer to that second blow and indeed should have conceded a third.
Another United substitute Shania Hayles, their to goal scorer in the League, who did well initially to win a ball deep in the visitor’s half and releasing the speedy Andrews for a run on goal.
Andrews though was unselfish and played the ball across to Hayles who had gone in support to her strike partner but the Jamican International could only smash the ball over the bar from only a couple of yards out.
It mattered little as the final whistle went not long after with United safely having survived a potential giant-killing from the near neighbours and safely bagging their place in the 4th round draw.
The fourth round draw
That draw took place on Monday night and the balls came out of the bag nicely for Newcastle to give them a chance to advance to the 5thround and last 16 of the competition as they were given a home tie.
They will face either Nottingham Forest or Burnley of the FA Northern Premier League, the League Wor Lasses won last season beating both sides to the title. Forest are the likely favourites as they top the Division and are unbeaten.
But Burnley are third and only four points behind their divisional rivals with a game in hand. Whichever of the third-tier sides that comes to Tyneside in the second week of January will be a big test for Becky Langley’s side in the next round.
