Perfect start continues as Newcastle United Women run riot

Well, it’s now four from four for Wor Lasses as they demolished Leicester City 4-0 with a powerful 90-minute display and a scintillating second-half performance on Sunday. Twelve points from twelve, a 100% record and 11 goals scored against one conceded.

Manager Tanya Oxtoby was understandably delighted in her post-game press conference. She spoke about how her team had carried out the game plan to perfection, how getting all the little things right enabled them to complete the bigger picture, and how well they won their battles.

Not even driving rain at times and a continuous strong wind could push the Lady Mags off course as they gather momentum with every week and game. All across the park, there was a United player doing their bit and showing just what depth of ability they have in the squad.

Even when Oxtoby made several changes in the second half, the relentlessness of her team continued right to the final whistle. The United gaffer was clearly bursting with pride at how well the game went.

Remember, this was a Leicester City side who were in WSL 1 last season and are, or perhaps were, hopeful of making an immediate return to the top flight. After back-to-back defeats in WSL 2, they might have to rethink that hope.

They were simply outclassed on the day and will now just wonder how they, or indeed anyone, can stop this Newcastle juggernaut. Of course, as Oxtoby was quick to point out, the season is still only four games old and there will be twists and turns aplenty to come, no doubt.

But for now, United have done all that has been asked of them and ended another matchday with a dominant display, one that could really be described as a statement win. The trick for Oxtoby and her coaching staff now is to keep the players’ feet on the ground and take nothing for granted.

Newcastle 4-0 Leicester

With Scottish international right-back and Lasses skipper Rachel McLauchlin missing out through injury, it was Scotland Under-23 international Charlotte Wardlaw who stepped into the skipper’s boots, and in some style too, showcasing once again just how strong United’s squad is.

Wardlaw opened the scoring for Newcastle in the 12th minute with her first goal for the club. It came after she ventured forward to assist her attack, with Mollie Lambert and Kathleen McGovern combining to set the young Scot up about 12 yards out.

Her first shot was possibly blocked illegally by a defender’s hand, but Wardlaw stayed focused and latched on to the rebound, firing it home off the post to give United the lead. From there, United dominated possession, but the City defence at first stood firm.

Leicester looked reasonably solid as half-time approached and had gained a little foothold in the game with neat football, without looking dangerous. United, on the other hand, with Katie Bradley prompting them and Beth Lumsden looking lively, always looked a threat.

Half-time came, though, with United only a goal to the good, but they almost doubled that lead after the break when Katie Keane in the Leicester goal made a brilliant double save to deny McGovern and Kaitlyn Torpey and keep her side in the game.

It almost paid off as well. Araya Dennis opened up the Lasses’ defence with a great ball across the box that lifelong United fan and former Newcastle loanee Poppy Pritchard got on the end of about eight yards out. Her flicked effort on target saw Anna Tamminen produce a world-class reflex save.

It kept United in front and then, on 67 minutes, they finally broke the Leicester resistance. Lumsden’s clever outside-of-the-boot lofted pass found Jordan Nobbs, who had come on for McGovern, inside the box.

The ex-Lioness crossed with pinpoint accuracy to find Martha Thomas, whose sublime glancing header gave Keane no chance whatsoever, and United were now two up and looking for more.

They did not have to wait long either, as two minutes later it was Thomas again who increased Newcastle’s lead with her second brace in as many weeks. Sprinting on to Lumsden’s superb left-footed through ball, she left the Leicester defence for dead as she weaved towards the box.

Steadying herself, she produced a great reverse right-footed shot from the edge of the box that completely wrong-footed Keane, who went the wrong way and could only watch the ball hit the back of her net. Thomas almost grabbed a hat-trick with a thunderous 25-yarder that Keane brilliantly tipped over.

The rampant Mags were not to be denied, though, and deep into injury time they did net a fourth. It was another first goal for the club, this time for Aoife Mannion. Nobbs’ inswinging corner saw Keane push the ball onto the bar.

When it dropped to Mannion inside the six-yard box, she had her back to goal but was able to cleverly hook the ball over her own head and turn to see it hit the back of the net to complete a fine afternoon’s work for the league leaders.

A busy week ahead

The perfect way to go into a very busy week. United have to go to WSL 1 side Aston Villa in midweek in the Subway League Cup for their first pool game. A tough challenge, and Oxtoby has promised changes for that game in an attempt to get more of her squad valuable minutes.

Then it’s a little jaunt down the A1 on Sunday for the first North East derby of the season in WSL 2, as United travel to Maiden Castle to take on rock-bottom Durham. With the hosts winless and pointless, it should be a game United will relish as they look to continue their flying 100% start.

But Durham have their pride and also a little bit of a hoodoo over Newcastle since United’s arrival in WSL 2. Wor Lasses have yet to beat their neighbours in four attempts.

Could Sunday be the first? Or will an upset be on the cards? If it goes to form, an upset seems highly unlikely.