Newcastle United Women got their historic first ever Barclays Championship League season off and running with a trip down to Hayes Lane Bromley to take on London City Lionesses for their opening game.
Both teams have undergone a massive rebuilding phase with The Lionesses moving to a new stadium under new ownership with multi-millionaire Michelle Kang being the principle person responsible for looking to turn their fortunes around.
United meanwhile following back-to-back promotions in the past two seasons have brought in no fewer than nine new signings as they look to at the very least consolidate themselves in the Championship if not push for a third consecutive promotion.
At the end though of the ninety minutes both sides will feel happy with a point although disappointed they couldn’t get their campaigns off to a winning start as the game ended in a hard-fought pretty even 1 – 1 draw.
HISTORY MAKER 🤩
Our first ever @BarclaysWC goal and an excellent debut finish from @shania_hayles!#NUFCWomen pic.twitter.com/y1DTGk4JcW
— Newcastle United Women (@NUFCWomen) September 9, 2024
For Newcastle it was perhaps the biggest indication that life at this level is going to be tough and they won’t have things as much their own way as they have in the past two campaigns.
That said a point away from home can never be seen as a bad result and certainly gives Head Coach Becky Langley and her coaching staff plenty of positives to build and work on.
United named six of their summer recruits in the starting XI with the other three on the bench. Ex-Manchester City and England International Demi Stokes taking over the captaincy from Amber-Keegan Stobbs who was on the bench.
In the opening exchanges United looked a little nervous but once into the game began to get on top and forced the pace. Two of last season’s promotion winning team Elysia Boddy and Jas McQuade leading the way in the centre of midfield.
Rachel Furness just failing to get on the end of one cross…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/09/09/newcastle-united-women-make-history-as-opening-day-trip-to-london-ends-all-square/
Author : Jeff King
Publish date : 2024-09-09 18:06:37
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