The Barclays Women’s Championship welcomed Portsmouth FC and Newcastle United to its ranks this season. This afternoon, the two newcomers faced off for the very first time at Pompey‘s south coast home ground.
Becky Langley’s side have had an astonishingly strong start to their first season in the second tier, whilst Portsmouth show real promise but struggle to adapt to the advancing level of football.
Sunday’s meeting at Westleigh Park ended in another disappointment for Portsmouth, whilst Newcastle can celebrate adding another important three points to their tally. A goal from Amy Andrews made the difference for the away side in the first half, as the hosts tried hard to contain the threat the opposition posed. A late comeback effort from Pompey was narrowly off-target, after Jasmine McQaude doubled the Magpies’ lead after the break.
The Lineups
POR: Annets; Hutchings, Casley, Coan, Collins, Barker, McLaughlin, McLachlan, Hornby, Quirk, Jones
NEW: Moan; Stokes, Stobbs, Boddy, Hayles, Cooper, Andrews, Furness, McQuade, Joel, Lumsden
The Action
Jay Sadler’s Portsmouth defended well throughout the opening half. Newcastle is home to some devastating talent upfront, including the likes of Demi Stokes and Shania Hayles. The visitors had several chances before taking the lead well into the contest, as Pompey‘s backline tried their utmost to deny the guests opportunities, and goalkeeper Eve Annets was called into action frequently.
The first chance of the match came for Hayles just three minutes following the first kick. The Magpie‘s bold interception led her to drive ambitiously toward goal, but Annets was wise to the threat and pulled out the stop to prevent an early opener.
Andrews brought Newcastle an impressive opening goal in the 34th minute. The forward’s first netting of the season came from her third chance on goal of the game, as the shot-hungry No. 17 hit a well thought-out pass from Jasmine McQuade with power, chipping it over Annets and sending it flying high into the goal.
Portsmouth emerged from half-time looking characteristically determined. Claudia Moan would be required to make a save for Newcastle just minutes into the second half, when forward Emma Jones tried her luck from the edge of the box. Jones was picked out from high up by Annie Hutchings after she won back possession from the Magpies, but the attempt did not do enough to challenge the presence between the sticks.
McQuade continued to flex her muscles, with a 58th minute shot from distance testing Annet. A vital asset to Langley’s lineup, the midfielder’s movement both on and off the ball was important to the travelling side’s performance.
Although Newcastle appeared dangerous, the underdogs were not going down without a fight. Newcastle substitute Katie Barker’s brilliant touch in the 65th minute was swatted away by Annet, before Pompey’s defenders did well to clear up the scraps. The attacker made a good run down the right wing just minutes later, and her ball in would be well-saved by Annets once again before Isabella Sibley, who also came off the bench, could find the back of the net.
As the Magpies continued to dominate, and Portsmouth were forced into forsaking their own attacking efforts, McQuade doubled Langley’s side’s lead. In the 73rd minute of the game, a sparkling Sibley picked up Lois Joel’s productive pass, brilliantly driving into the box from the right-hand side, and finding an unchallenged McQuade to tap it in. As the minutes ticked by, Pompey’s backline looked to be faltering.
Newcastle showed no signs of relenting as the final whistle drew near, Portsmouth beginning to have difficulties keeping up with the dominant visitors. Still maintaining a focus on keeping the scoreline as narrow as possible, Sadler’s trailing side did search to put themselves back into the game. Megan Hornby looked to Emily Pitman with a chance in the final third, but Moan was off her line in plenty of time to gather it.
Briefly on the front foot, Pompey‘s burning desire to earn their first goal, if not first points of the season, was stark. The efforts of the home side were unsuccessful, but it remains fair to say that Portsmouth are growing into this competition. The Magpies continue to meet, if not exceed, the expectations of many.
The breakthrough was almost delivered by Emily Pitman for Sadler’s side in the 86th minute after a cross from Hutchings sent Newcastle’s defence into disarray, but the forward’s strike fell to the right of the goalpost. Moments later, excellent footwork from Hornby was frustratingly off the upper woodwork despite appearing goalbound.
There is no let up in the challenge faced by Portsmouth, who showed strength today despite the defeat, as they must now gear up to travel to London City Lionesses in the next round. Comfortable Newcastle will return home to host Durham FC next Sunday, eager to secure another win.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Jasmine McQuade
