Match Report

FCUM Women made the lengthy trip to Druid Park, Newcastle, shorn of 11 players and predictably found second-placed Newcastle United Women very formidable opponents. The home side fielded seven of the side that won 6-0 at Broadhurst Park on the opening day of the season. Reds manager Tom Fitton could name only three outfield players on the bench alongside goalkeeper Elsie Baxter. Chelsea Patient returned wearing the captain’s armband for her first outing since December 2020.

The visitors were quickly forced on the defensive and within 8 minutes were trailing. Lauren Robson found space out wide for a dipping cross met by Georgia Gibson with a powerful header. A minute later the Lady Magpies had doubled their advantage. This time Robson swept past three defenders before her right-foot shot from the edge of the box flew beyond the reach of Chloe Ainsworth into the top corner.  Ellie Rigby and Keeley Goodwin tried to respond with FCUM creating some promising moves, but Olivia Watt and Ellen Packham stood firm.

Ruthless Newcastle stepped up the pressure. In the 37th minute Robson again went on a dangerous run, exchanged passes with Katie Barker and curling a pinpoint strike into the net. With added time almost up Robson completed her hat-trick with a right-wing raid and cross that looped over the keeper and went in off the far post.

With Ashleigh Hayes on for Goodwin, the Reds resumed but in the 48th minute Rachel Lee fired in a fifth from distance to add to the visitor’s woes. In the 50th minute Newcastle won a free kick out on the right, and Robson’s delivery found Bethany Guy outjumping the pack to force it home.

Things went from bad to worse in the 58th minute when a back-pass evaded Ainsworth and rolled into the net. Beth Hayes replaced Ceri Ogdon on the hour mark as FCUM struggled to contain their superior opponents. Soon after this a corner was partially cleared but fell at the feet of Barker, who made it 8-0 beating the keeper from close range.

Ainsworth did manage to keep the score down, but left back Keira Skelton ventured up field in the 75th minute and guided a shot from the edge of the box into the corner. Sophie Dorio came on for Georgia Traill-Scott in the closing stages, but the home side made it a record 10-0 defeat in the last minute when Barker leapt to nod the ball deftly over the line.