Murphy’s goal and Lumsden’s late strike secure a 2–0 win for the Lasses against Portsmouth in Barclays Women’s Super League 2 at Gateshead International Stadium.
Match report by Mark Stutt – ILNS Women’s Football Correspondent
NUWFC 2 – ITWFC 0 (HT 1 – 0)
Venue: Gateshead International Stadium (GIS)
Att: 1,950
PoTM: Murphy
Fans of the Lasses were concerned in the days leading up to this match whether it would go ahead or not. The awful recent weather and constant rainfall was a concern with the mackem’s home game being called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Newcastle in contrast decided to put covers on the pitch at the GIS and bring in heaters to prevent a frozen pitch too, which also allowed Gateshead to play their game.
Pompey were bottom of the league at kick-off and the Lasses had a 100% record against them (three league wins and the FAWNL Cup semi-final victory) suggesting this record wasn’t going to be under threat; however the last home game, against Ipswich, was a warning against complacency. Our record against the other South Coast team in this league – Southampton has been excellent this season too. A tight 1-0 win at home and in the match before this one, the Lasses won 1-2 at the St Mary’s Stadium, with Nobbs getting both the goals, the first after 15 seconds!
The Lasses bench was very thin, with only five outfield subs named. A bug had swept through the squad and with longstanding injuries (I know I get sick of mentioning them too) there were 13 players unavailable to Oxtoby for this game. Gosia has missed the last two games due to the death of her Father and I’d like to pass on the condolences of all the Lasses fans to her.
The Lasses lined up with Tamminen in goal; Wardlaw, Mannion (C), Torpey and Purfield in defence; Joel, Pike and Nobbs in midfield; with a forward line of Gregory, Larsson and Murphy. This was Larsson’s first start of the season since arriving in January and Simone Charley signed at the end of the window from Orlando Pride in the NWSL was on the bench. At 5’8” she’ll bring some height to the forward line and by all accounts is pretty pacey.
The back five are starting to look settled as a unit, I’ve been particularly impressed with Torpey and Purfield, Wardlaw is consistently good and Mannion is taking the captaincy (with Stokes not starting recent games) in her stride, her experience can only benefit the younger players next to her.
Pompey started brightly and the Lasses seemed to take some time to get into their stride; the pitch was looking very heavy, particularly down the wings and this didn’t help them. Murphy was her usual bustling self, linking up nicely with Nobbs and playing a lovely one-two with Pike on 13’. Oxtoby was very complementary about Pike’s versatility and much as I’d like to see her further up the pitch as ‘she’s got goals in her’, her link up play and dead-ball ability appeals to the manager. However, she does get bounced off the ball a bit too easily and some upper body strengthening work wouldn’t go amiss? Larsson just missed out on Pike’s through ball on 25’ or she’d have been in on goal against the keeper.
Portsmouth were getting away with a lot of niggly fouls and pull-backs and nearly broke the deadlock when a cross from the wing floated over Tamminen and rebounded off the cross bar. I’m sure the ‘Finnish Wall’ had it covered. A minute later a Pike free kick from outside the D was spilled by Pompey’s keeper, Gray, who just reclaimed it in time from Purfield who was set to pounce.
The opening goal of the match came in the 42’ following clever interplay between Nobbs and Joel the latter who sent over a wicked cross into the opposition’s box from the right wing. The curve of the ball’s flight took it away from Gray’s outstretched hands and Murphy was on hand to volley it into the empty net. In the three minutes of extra time Murphy chased down Gray and the ball was loose in the box, but no Newcastle player was on hand to take advantage.
There were no changes to the Lasses line-up for the second half and after only a minute Larsson burst into the box, but her shot was saved. Murphy, who must a nightmare to mark, charged towards goal soon after, straight through midfield and sent in Gregory who’s cross into the box was begging to be hit, however Larsson (who had been making some intelligent runs and passes) had just checked her run at the wrong time.
On 54’ Gray was caught out of the penalty area by Murphy, she couldn’t get the ball over the stranded keeper, so passed to Gregory who’s goalward shot was stopped by a defender who’d back tracked to stop an excellent chance of another goal from the Lasses. They seemed to have come to terms with the pitch and were much more positive in this half. Portsmouth seemed very shaky under the Lasses pressing.
The first Newcastle substitution came on 58’ with Larsson (who is still working on match fitness) making way for Lumsden, a former Portsmouth player. Within a minute of getting on the pitch Lumsden picked up the ball in her own half and charged towards Pompey’s goal, their players were bouncing off her and her close control didn’t let them near her. She was finally stopped by a shoulder charge on the edge of the box, which the ref decided was not a foul; I begged to differ.
The sun decided to show itself and light up a much more positive home performance by the Lasses, however this didn’t increase the temperature and the number of players wearing gloves was not surprising. A ball into the box from Lumsden to Murphy came to nothing, but the Lasses were turning the screw and deserved something to show for it.
Charley came on for Gregory to make her debut and made an almost immediate impact her pace taking her away from her marker and the through ball to her was just cut out or she’d have been one-on-one with the keeper. Charley forced Gray into parrying her shot with the pass coming from Lumsden; the subs making a significant impact on the game. Nobbs got in on the act of supplying Charley (stop laughing at the back) and it took a superb tackle to take the ball away from the American.
Another break from Newcastle saw Nobbs unmarked on the right wing but the pass never came to her and another chance went begging. Hopefully goal difference isn’t a deciding factor in the promotion race. McQuade replaced Pike with four minutes to go and on 90’ all the Lasses pressure finally paid off. This time Murphy provided the assist sending Lumsden into the box. A beautiful first touch with her right foot was followed by a vicious left foot shot that beat Gray at her near post and Lumsden had her goal against her former team. I don’t know of any player in this league who is better with both feet.
Five minutes of extra time brought no change to the score and the final whistle saw the Lasses move into joint third position in the league, with goal difference keeping them off the play- off place.
The Lasses don’t have a match now until 14th March and Oxtoby will be given the chance to work on the training pitch to keep the positive momentum going. There were less sideways and backward passes than in the last home game and this positive approach combined with the settled back five, rewarded with a clean sheet, bodes well.
Murphy takes Player of the Match for me, with mention in despatches for Joel and Mannion. Charley could have a positive impact on the end of the season and I’ve been impressed with Torpey and Larsson. Hopefully this next break will get some of the bodies out of the treatment room and onto the training pitch for the run into the end of the season.
Keep on keeping on and as ever –
Howay the Lasses!
