It’s been an incredible season for the Newcastle Women’s football second team. After a phenomenal league-deciding win against Durham on Wednesday, the girls took to the pitch with their heads held high, and confidence buzzing through the side.
Despite the Northumbria seconds being currently two leagues above our girls, the match began with some promising play and with Newcastle dominating possession of the ball. In the later minutes of the first half, Northumbria found the back of the net, however the contagious spirit of Newcastle seemed untouched. Players were serenaded with traditional team anthems from supporters on both sides of the pitch.
2 Leagues above Newcastle in BUCS
Following a motivational and tactical team talk from captain, Lydia Smith, the girls rushed back out onto the field to embrace the second half of the match, which began with a fantastic save from Goalkeeper, Roberta Dewar. An unlucky miss from Caitlin Renouf, and some excellent tackles from Emma Ladlow were followed by two Northumbria goals, taking the score to 3-0.
The girls did not give up, however, and fought back tremendously with Smith placing the ball tidily inside the Northumbria goal. The struggle continued to the final moments. At three minutes to go Smith urged her team to score two more goals and equalise, but the team’s belief was not enough, and the final kick of the game was the last Northumbria goal, leaving the score at 4 – 1. The Newcastle girls were quick to praise the game and each other’s performances and are ready to rest and celebrate after such a demanding week.