Newcastle United Women won the first Wear-Tyne derby in the Women’s Championship against Sunderland, thanks to a brace from Beth Lumsden, with Manager Becky Langley praising her side’s courageousness and spirit. Daniel Wales reports from the Stadium of Light.
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00:00On a crisp October afternoon, women's football in the Northeast was about to
00:04enjoy quite possibly its biggest ever fixture. Sunland women against Newcastle
00:09United women in a game that was more than just two teams of 11 on the pitch.
00:12The first half certainly had an edge to it with plenty of full-blooded action to
00:17stir the senses of the supporters. Newcastle went closest first as Rachel
00:21Furness headed just over from inside the box and while Sunland were also probing
00:26it was those in black and white who would soon be celebrating. A solo effort
00:31from Beth Lumsden put Newcastle ahead. She charged into the box from the left,
00:35cut inside her marker before firing home. Sunland were unfortunate to not draw
00:41level soon after though. The second half however started in sublime fashion for
00:45both Beth Lumsden and Newcastle United. She got hers and her team's second, this
00:49time direct from a corner that curled into the far top corner evading everyone.
00:54It was almost three when Shania Hales was denied by Demi Lambourne with that
00:59save just about keeping Sunland in the game. This gave them hope which spurred
01:05them on to a goal back through Emily Scar's looped shot over Claudia Moan.
01:10Newcastle though almost restored their two goal advantage straight away when
01:15Amber Keegan's stobs squared the ball to Demi Stokes but her heavy touch allowed
01:20Lambourne to block. Sunland continued to push with newfound urgency but
01:26ultimately Newcastle were able to hold on for the win and claim the bragging rights.
01:30Newcastle manager Becky Langley then praised her side's
01:34courageousness and will to win. It's always one you've got to be careful with
01:39if you're going to be bold and speak so highly of the team and if you don't get
01:42the results you know it can look a little naive but I think we were bold
01:46today the players responded to that well and yeah we did we did well and we
01:50performed well on the pitch. We know set pieces are such a big part of the game
01:54and you know Sunland have scored a lot of set pieces this season and you know we
01:57were disappointed to have not scored one so far until today and then obviously
02:01the second goal comes from a great corner from Beth and I'm not sure who
02:04bundled it across the line in the end but we'll take it and I felt I took the
02:08sting out of the game for the next 20. I think you know the whole back five was
02:12was from the Northeast so they had that you know what it means and they'll be
02:15disappointed they didn't keep the clean sheet but yeah I thought every player
02:19that was on the pitch today whether it was the you know the the five ten
02:22minutes Lois Joel got at the end and Sophie for the last 20 but I think every
02:26single player out there gave absolutely everything for the shirt and that's all
02:29we can ask for. Sunland boss Mel Ray believed her side
02:33fell just short. You know we're not daft like the result was the most important
02:38thing today it was a derby and ultimately we didn't do enough to get
02:41over the line so it was a real battle out there good shift from both both
02:47teams bit frustrated with some of the decisions I thought there was a storm
02:52wall penalty in there to get the game level and they're big calls are big
02:56moments in games like this