Mark Stutt reviews the latest match between SUWFC v NUWFC – 14/3/26 Barclays Women’s Super League 2
SUWFC 1 v NUWFC 1 (HT 1 – 1)
Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Att: Not disclosed
PoTM: Kelly*
Another interminable break for the Lasses due to various international qualifications/tournaments meant that this was the first game in nearly a month. Just as the Lasses were gaining momentum, the league came to a halt in February, and Mannion & Murphy (Eire); Hayles (Jamaica); Joel (Wales); Sevenius & Tamminem (Finland); Gregory, Wardlaw & McQuade (Scotland) and Torpey (Australia) all departed to represent their countries. The fact that the Lasses now have ten internationals playing for them is an indication of the progress the team is making.
The lack of Lasses matches led me down a rabbit hole of games I never thought I’d watch, such as Wrexham women v Cardiff women in their league cup final. Wrexham featuring Katie Barker and Jodie Bartle (both former Mag Lasses) won the cup on pens. I also found myself watching Australia v North Korea in the QF of the AFC Asian Women’s Cup. Torpey had a great game and helped see her country into the SF against China.
Anticipation amongst the Lasses fans had been building due to the break and a happy bunch gathered in the Centurion before the supporters’ bus departed for the relatively nearby away fixture against Sheffield United. Thanks to Angela, Michael and NUSC for organising transport again.
The fans were informed that we’d been given the OK to go into the Railway Hotel pre-match. Normally a ‘home fans only pub’ (we don’t have them in Newcastle) it’s the closest pub to Bramall Lane, possibly the Blades equivalent to the Strawberry? It was good of them to allow us in, although the chance to make a quick few hundred quid from Geordies wasn’t going to be knocked back, especially as there wasn’t a single home fan in the pub. It’s vicinity to the ground was probably all it has in common with the Strawberry as the weird décor (and I don’t mean the red & white Blades paraphernalia…), poor beer selection and resident ‘lost Braveheart extra and xenophobic racist’ left a lot to be desired.
Anyway, onto the footy – the team lined up with Tamminem in goal; Wardlaw, Mannion, Purfield and Stokes in defence, Kelly and Nobbs in midfield and Pike, Larsson, Lumsden and Murphy in attack, in a 4-2-3-1 formation. It was great to see Kelly back in the starting line-up for the first time since the home game against the mackems. Cooper and Gautrat were back from injury and on the bench, the latter after signing a permanent contract and ending the questions fans had about her status in the team, but not about her famous window (IYKYK)!
Newcastle started the match looking determined to keep their pre-international form
going with strong runs into opposition territory by Murphy and Nobbs. Kelly settled into her role quickly and didn’t look like she’d been away as she broke up Sheffield’s attacks and passed the ball intelligently. The Blades looked set up to play on the break, using Andrews’ pace down the left. Andrews left the Lasses at the end of the last season and looked set on adding herself to the ‘former Newcastle player scores against them’ list. However, she was up against Wardlaw, who is just as quick and equally determined to prevent Andrews from achieving that ambition.
The Lasses fans had travelled in numbers (there was no attendance figure given) and I wouldn’t be exaggerating in saying they outnumbered home fans 3:1. A home supporter with a drum became increasingly irate as her attempts to rouse the silent home fans was answered by thunderous calls of ‘Geordies!’ and she gave up. Fans were told on entry to sit where they like and some home fans found themselves surrounded by the Toon Army belting out their full repertoire led by Jamie and the Choir.
Andrews nearly got her wish as she was set through on a 1-on-1 with Tamminen who saved fantastically with an outstretched leg. Lumsden broke into their box on 35’ but it didn’t end with a goal and Murphy got a well saved shot away on 38’ following an excellent tackle by Kelly. A minute later Larsson had the ball in the net for what she thought was her first goal for the Lasses following an excellent tackle and cross by Lumsden. However, the ref blew for a supposed foul by Murphy.
On 44’ Sheffield scored from a free kick as Sherwood flicked in the ball to beat Tamminem. The Lasses didn’t let their heads drop and prevented themselves going in behind as a beautiful ball in from Nobbs was chested down by Murphy and she lashed the shot past Rogers in the 47th minute. The ref blew up for the end of the half just after the restart.
Six minutes into the second half Pike almost scored a ‘worldy’, but brought a world class save from Rogers as her shot from 30 yards screamed towards the top corner of the net. Not to be outdone Tamminem pulled off a fingertip save, again from Andrews, minutes later. The match was end-to-end and entertaining to watch. Kelly’s ball winning ability and distribution inspired a rendition of the ‘Oh Kelly De Bruyne’ chant: Murphy, Mannion, Nobbs, Wardlaw, Tamminem, Purfield, in fact just about every player had their own song sung for them by the Lasses supporters, who turned Bramall Lane into another Lasses fans take over.
On the hour mark Kelly, Lumsden and Stokes made way for Cooper, McQuade and Gregory respectively and the formation seemed to shift to a 3-5-2/5-3-2 dependent on possession. A cheer broke out amongst the Lasses fans as the news that the Lads (Not Lasses) had beaten Chelsea filtered through (the match was on the screens in the concourse, and we saw Gordon’s goal at half time).
The Blades nearly took the lead on 74’ as Scofield’s shot cannoned back off the post. Cooper had slotted into the defence and didn’t put a foot wrong pinging cross-field passes around and showing she hasn’t lost any pace following her knee injury.
Murphy was replaced by Hayles on 75’ and Larsson by Sevenius on 87’ Sheffield were running out of ideas and steam and resorted to numerous time-wasting efforts – tactical injuries, repeated shoelace tying and delayed goal kicks etc. as they decided to stick with a point.
The Lasses despite 22 shots in the match didn’t threaten Rogers’ goal again and after 6’ ET the ref blew on an ultimately frustrating match.
After their post-match huddle the players came over to thank the fans (as they always do) and Sevenius (Wor Oona) was telling everyone ‘Be there on Wednesday (against Birmingham) it’s a big game!’ With two further games at home in the space of seven days – Birmingham then Crystal Palace the Lasses could either cement a place in the promotion spots or confirm another season in the WSL2.
Wednesday’s game clashes with a not inconsequential Not Lasses game so fingers crossed for positive results for both wor teams wearing black & white. As ever, keep on keeping on and –
Howay the Lasses!
*As usual the PoTM also includes Mention in Despatches, so Kelly takes the prize today for playing so well in her first start after a long lay-off, while Nobbs and Wardlaw were also excellent.
