Another week and another draw for NUFC Women. And another draw snatched at virtually the death thanks to Welsh International Lois Joel’s 30-yard rocket.
Still no win since the opening day of the season, and still no win at Gateshead International Stadium.
It all adds up to statistics that don’t read well at the moment, and ones that the pre-season promotion favourites will not enjoy seeing. Over a quarter of League games played, only six points from six games and 9th position in the table doesn’t read well.
There are suggestions that Head Coach Becky Langley is under pressure due to the results so far. That would be a fair assessment, as any Club with high expectations not yet (and yet is important) living up to them will encounter some pressure.
The whispers are out and had Joel not launched that spectacular leveller perhaps those whispers may have been knives. But it would be extremely harsh on Langley if those rumours were fact after her fabulous record over the last four seasons in particular.
Yes, Wor Lasses are sitting rather uncomfortably and seven points behind the automatic promotion places. However, no-one can deny that Langley has earned a longer and fair crack into moulding this squad into promotion contenders.
It should also be noted that four of United’s six games have been against sides in the top six reflecting their tough start to the campaign. So, personally I would be extremely surprised if not shocked if Langley was under any threat to her job.
She herself knows what the expectations are and what she needs to achieve. No-one will be applying more pressure on her than herself. Just as no-one will be working as hard as she will be to try and find that winning formula. It feels like it’s coming.
On Sunday United were very good in the first half. Almost totally dominating play and carving out a number of good situations that they just couldn’t quite turn to their advantage.
However, Bristol almost took a surprise lead when United failed to clear a cross, allowing Marine Dafeur to steal into the six-yard box and fire past Femke Liefting, but United’s keeper and her teammates were relieved to see the ball come back off the near post.
After that early scare, Newcastle did really start applying pressure. A great run down the right by Emily Murphy saw her slip an inside pass to Morgan Gautrat who picked out Demi Stokes at the back post.
Stokes struck the ball well from just outside the six-yard box but she was denied an opening goal by a very good reflex save with her legs by Fran Bentley in the City goal.
Gautrat was heavily involved for United and the USA International was very much running the show. Popping up between the lines and picking out clinical passes.
From one such pass she found Oona Sevenius in a good position but the Finland International saw her strike well blocked by a wall of defenders.
On 36 minutes defender Deanna Cooper almost scored a goal which could have qualified for either a goal of the season contender or perhaps the luckiest goal of the season.
Cooper getting her head to a Bentley clearance and from virtually on the halfway line sending a header back at goal that went over Bentley’s head but bounced just over the bar, saving the City’s keeper’s blushes.
However, for the first time this season, with just seconds left to play in the first half, Newcastle found themselves in front at home and almost inevitably Gautrat was involved.
United’s two-time World Cup winner was found inside the Bristol box by a neat Jordan Nobbs pass. Gautrat cutting back onto her right foot from the byline and firing a low cross to Sevenius just outside the six-yard box.
Sevenius’ first-time left foot effort was blocked but the rebound came back to her and she showed real composure to fire it high into the top corner with her right-foot for her second goal in two games.
Cue great celebrations from a player in front of the loyal Geordie faithful who have already taken the Scandinavian to their hearts. It meant United left the field with a real spring in their steps fully deserving their half-time lead.
Bristol though came back out for the second half far from downhearted and shocked United as they got themselves back level just 90 seconds in. Good play down the right saw Mari Ward burst into the box and square the ball across the six-yard box.
United’s defence were caught napping and dangerous striker Rio Hardy arrived unmarked to meet the ball and tap it home into an empty net to equalise for Bristol.
The goal buoyed Bristol who almost went in front after a free kick was won and delivered into the United box finding the feet of Sophie Ingle who was denied by a brave Liefting save from point-blank range.
The game was really beginning to open up with chances at both ends as both sides looked for a goal that might have given them all three points. United creating a really good chance with great play from the left.
Stokes’ perfectly weighted ball into the box was dummied by Murphy and fell for an unmarked Molly Pike to aim for the bottom corner, but her effort from 10-yards out lacked power and saw Bentley dive left to comfortably grasp the ball.
On 76 minutes the excellent crowd of 2,032 were stunned into silence apart from one very noisy Bristol fan as he celebrated his side going ahead and it was Hardy who was on target again.
Some tidy footwork from Vera Jones allowed her to get past Aoife Mannion in the box but she was blocked by Cooper. The ball ricochetting to Hardy who smashed it home through a crowd of players giving Leifting no chance.
Time was ticking down and United looked like going down to back-to-back home defeats but for the third time in five league games, Wor Lasses hauled themselves back level with 89 minutes on the clock.
A cross from substitute Beth Lumsden was hacked clear with the ball falling to Joel some 30 yards from goal. Joel only needed one touch to steady herself before launching a thunderous strike beyond the reach of Bentley to rescue a point for United.
Once again, not the result Langley and her team would have wanted, but another occasion where they showed great grit and determination as well as that never-say-die attitude to at least get something out of the game.
