Newcastle United Women continue their League Cup action away to WSL 1 side Everton on Wednesday.
The chance to visit Goodison Park was a first for some supporters.
Everton’s women’s team made the move last year as the men vacated.
A pre-kick-off storm didn’t make conditions any easier and a bitterly cold and wet night on Merseyside was a concern for many.
The traveling Toon Army were based in the bottom right corner of the main Goodison Road stand, close to the Park End goal. Most home supporters were also subdued, but there were Blues fans with flags in the Gwladys Street End.
The Bullens Road stand, traditionally home to Newcastle’s male fans over the last few decades, was left empty with banners covering the seats.
Tanya Oktoby made ten changes from last weekend’s derby defeat to Sunderland.
The squad included local youngster Abbie Richardson, who recently signed a new professional contract, as well as Lia Cataldo, making her first start in almost a year.
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Match Report
Newcastle were happy to sit on the ball and defend deep for much of the first half, limiting Everton to any real clear scoring opportunities, most of the chances coming from distance.
Hanna Nemeth looked a neat presence at the back as she cleaned everything that went into the box after moving from Werder Bremen in the Frauen Bundesliga in the summer.
In the 15th minute, the home team put the ball in United’s goal. However, Noéme Mouchon was flagged for offside after tapping home a Hannah Silcock rebound from a yard out.
Former Leicester winger Hannah Cain was proving the biggest threat as she dominated down the left flank. He saw an effort whistle wide of the far post after being picked out by Silcock’s high, long ball. Before anyone could go closer, Mouchon held onto the ball in the box before feeding him a short pass, but his side-footed effort hit the foot of the post.
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
French striker Ornella Vignola tried her luck on the half-turn from 20 meters out, but her shot was beaten by Anna Tammine’s dive in the Newcastle game.
Newcastle started the second half well and Richardson almost made a fine debut when Emilia Larsson picked him out on the edge of the box. However, his effort fell wide and was easily dealt with by Rylee Foster-Inman in Everton’s goal.
The game opened up further after that and Larsson had his chance when he hit the post from Lois Joel’s half-cleared corner.
Charlotte Wardlaw then went close after she raced up the field along the touchline before testing Foster-Inman, getting past Maz Pacheco and forcing him to cover.
Although Newcastle started to look effective on the counter-attack, the Toffees were still creating more clear-cut chances. Cain was again at the forefront of Everton’s attacks and his whipped cross found Aurora Galli on the edge of the box, but her effort went over the crossbar on the hour mark.
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Tamminen was replaced at half-time by Kayla Rendell with Tamminen still struggling to get back to full fitness, but she remained largely a spectator until the final ten minutes. His first recorded action was when Hannah Cain forced him after an athletic save attempt.
But soon Everton got a break. Newcastle pulled back and gave Vignola too much time on the ball before firing a quality shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Vignola soon got a second when he tapped home from close range into the bottom corner after a Clare Wheeler cut-back.
He could have completed his hat-trick when Yuka gratuitously chipped the ball to Momiki. But the Japanese winger hesitated, allowing the United defense to claw back numbers and clear the threat.
Newcastle had a chance to score towards the end. Oona Sevenius did well to force a turnover before finding substitute Mollie Lambert who fired over the bar.
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Newcastle United Women’s Team: Anna Tamminen (c) (Kayla Rendell 46), Charlotte Wardlaw, Hannah Nemeth, Gemma Evans, Lia Cataldo (Gemma Purfield 85), Lois Joel, Abbia Richardson (Ashanti Akpan 71), Oona Sevenius, Leanne Kiernan (Molly Ganoverl 60), Emilia Larsson.
Subs are not used: Demi Stokes, Katie Bradley, Cassie Gregson
Everton: Riley Foster-Inman, Hitaru Kitagawa, Megan Finnigan, Hannah Silcock, Rion Ishikawa (72), Honoka Hayashi (86), Aurora Galli, Cutta Rantala (72), Ornella Vignola, Naomi Mushon (61), Hannah Kane.
Not used: Courtney Brosnan, Hannah Blundell, Naomi Layzell, Holly McNamara, Ruby Mace
Where this leaves the Newcastle United Women’s team
Three defeats in their first three League Cup games means Newcastle are unlikely to progress from the group stage.
They still have three games to play, all three on Tyneside. Nottingham Forest visit Gateshead International Stadium with Manchester United traveling to St James’ Park for a midweek game under the lights.
The only away game remaining is against Durham at Mariner’s Park in South Shields.
What comes
Newcastle United Women return to WSL2 action on Sunday when they travel to the City Ground to remain unbeaten against Nottingham Forest in what promises to be another tough game.
Then there’s the aforementioned cup tie at South Shields next Sunday, followed by a league game against Burnley at St James’ Park on Sunday 8 November.