On 24th November, Newcastle United Women played host to Liverpool Women in a goal filled cup game, which seen the home side painfully lose 6-1 against their opponents.
Newcastle headed into this game having secured a last-minute draw against Southampton in their most recent Championship clash, with Liverpool failing to secure any points in the Merseyside derby on November 17th.
For those unsure of the format for the Women’s League Cup, 20 teams from across the top two tiers have been split into 5 groups, where they play each other once. Only the outright winner of each group will make it through to the quarter finals.
Group A is arguably one of the toughest groups, with Newcastle United the only Championship side, drawn against three teams in the top tier of English women’s football. They secured a point in their previous League Cup clash against Everton after a draw ended in a penalty shootout, and Liverpool lost their opening cup clash against Manchester United.
The 2pm kick off at Kingston Park started with Liverpool in full control, creating multiple chances right from kick off.
Two shots were saved in quick succession from Newcastle’s keeper, before the first goal came in the 10th minute by Liverpool’s Zara Shaw hitting it into the top left corner from outside the box, assisted by Fuka Nagano. This was the 17-year-old’s first senior goal for Liverpool and earned her a warm cheer from the travelling fans.
This goal was closely followed by Mia Enderby slotting it in from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner in the 12th minute, much to the dismay of Newcastle.
Liverpool were in full cruise control from the beginning, but this did not dampen the atmosphere from the home crowd at Kingston Park. The support certainly seemed to spur Newcastle on, with Isabella Sibley having a narrow miss from a header in the 25th minute, and a good shot just slightly too high in the 33rd minute from Demi Stokes following a corner.
A warm reception could be heard from the crowd when captain Amber-Keegan Stobbs was substituted on for Sophie Haywood.
Liverpool’s third goal came in the 35th minute, with Olivia Smith slotting it in the bottom right corner from close range. With three minutes of added time in the first half announced, The Reds easily found the back of the net again. This time, Cornelia Kapocs tapped it in the bottom left corner to get on the score sheet following her two assists for the previous goals.
Half time saw Newcastle trailing miserably 4-0 to a confident Liverpool.
The second half immediately saw multiple changes for Liverpool. Olivia Smith came off for Leanne Kiernan, Marie-Therese Höbinger made way for Ceri Holland, Grace Fisk for Taylor Hinds and lastly Gemma Evans off for Hannah Silcock.
Newcastle United made their second substitution in the 48th minute, swapping Olivia Watt for Jasmine McQuade.
Despite a significant dent in the scoreline, Newcastle started this second half with renewed vigour, with close chances created by Amy Andrews and Elysia Boddy within the 50-minute mark. Unfortunately, getting that all important goal seemed to prove too difficult for Newcastle to manage, and they conceded yet another goal in the 55th minute, with the formidable Mia Enderby comfortably slotting home her second of the match.
Only one card was shown in this match, with a bad foul from Liverpool’s Yana Daniëls being shown a yellow. A number of free kicks for Newcastle could have provided a prospect for a chance on goal, but the team struggled to make anything of the few opportunities given to them.
A triple change was made by Newcastle in the 63rd minute, with Georgia Gibson coming on for Isabella Sibley, Kacie Elson for Emma Kelly, and Newcastle’s top goal scorer Shania Hayles replacing Elysia Boddy.
Liverpool also took the opportunity to make their fifth and final substitution, replacing captain Niamh Fahey with Gemma Bonner.
Attempts on goal were had by both sides in the 69th minute, and Newcastle’s Katie Barker had a great shot stopped at very close range in the 74th minute.
Newcastle finally got their goal in the 88th minute, with Amy Andrews scoring from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner following a set piece. The ‘Toon Army’ fans went wild, and whilst what only proved to be a consolation goal, it provided the home side with a much-needed boost of energy going into the closing minutes.
With 5 minutes of added time announced, Newcastle had a potential second goal opportunity denied as Kacie Elson’s attempt on goal following a corner was aimed too high. Shortly after, Liverpool earned their sixth and final goal, with Irish international Leanna Kiernan’s powerful shot being netted into the bottom left corner, assisted by Zara Shaw. This final goal seemed to be the nail in the coffin for Newcastle, and with a deflated atmosphere the cup tie ended Newcastle United 1, Liverpool 6.
The home side were undeniably outclassed by their WSL opponents, and this result leaves them sitting bottom of Group A with only 1 point from a possible 6, and Liverpool on 3 points sitting in second place.
Newcastle Starting XI: Hannah Reid (GK), Demi Stokes ©, Olivia Watt, Hannah Greenwood, Elysia Boddy, Emma Kelly, Isabella Sibley, Lois Joel, Katie Barker, Amy Andrews, Sophie Haywood
Subs used: Amber-Keegan Stobbs ©, Shania Hayles, Georgia Gibson, Kacie Elson, Jasmine McQuade
Liverpool Starting XI: Teegan Micah (GK), Gemma Evans, Grace fisk, Niamh Fahey ©, Cornelia Kapocs, Fuka Nagano, Marie-Therese Höbinger, Yana Daniëls, Zara Shaw, Olivia Smith, Mia Enderby
Subs used: Leanne Kiernan, Taylor Hinds, Ceri Holland, Gemma Bonner, Hannah Silcock
Attendance: 3,013
Photo Credit: @TrinityKathlynn via Instagram.
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