Newcastle United Women

Fifth placed Newcastle United Women hosted bottom placed side Portsmouth in front of 1,950 fans at a chilly Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday. With ten of their players unavailable due to injury.

Manager Tanya Oxtoby made just one change from last week’s win away to Southampton, handing Emilia Larsson a first start, while latest signing Simone Charley was named as one of the substitutes.

There was however some positive news during the week with Charlotte Wardlaw and Jas McQuade named in the Scotland Under-23s squad for next month’s friendly against the Netherlands. The game is set to take place in Inverness on Monday, 2nd March. While Freya Gregory was named in the senior side for their double-header against Luxembourg for a pair of World Cup qualifying games.

Match Report

In a difficult game that was low on clear cut chances, the Lady Mags restricted Portsmouth to just two shots on target in the entire game. Newcastle were first to threaten following a quick break up the pitch, as a low Emily Murphy cross was pushed clear by Jess Gray in the Pompey goal, with several Newcastle players waiting to pounce on a potential...