Newcastle 3 (Bailey-Gayle 40, 73, McQuade 90+3) Wolves 0
Wolves Women were beaten by league leaders Newcastle United in the FA Women’s National League on Sunday afternoon.
Paige Bailey-Gayle’s brace put the Magpies into a commanding position at Kingston Park, before Jasmine McQuade’s strike in stoppage time confirmed all three points late on.
However, the result didn’t tell the full story of the afternoon as Wolves were unfortunate not to net at least twice, as Amber Hughes and Destiney Toussaint both hit the woodwork in the first 45.
The Old Gold started the stronger of the two sides and almost went ahead inside five minutes as Hughes’ acrobatic effort from Anna Morphet’s corner kick struck the crossbar before the hosts were able to clear their lines.
At the other end, United responded with a chance of their own when Amber-Keegan Stobbs crossed in from the left and Beth Lumsden sent a diving header narrowly wide of the far post.
Newcastle took the lead five minutes before the interval as Charlotte Potts played in Lumsden down the right who crossed into a dangerous area where Bailey-Gayle got there just ahead of Bec Thomas to prod home from close range.
Despite falling behind, Wolves looked to fight back and, for a second time, struck the woodwork. This time, it was Toussaint who used the wind to her advantage as she looped a cross in from the right and the ball somehow hit the inside of the far post and was cleared to safety.
Half-time | Newcastle 1-0 Wolves
Lia Cataldo shot wide early into the second period, before Toussaint was off-target for the visitors who were still in search of a leveller.
However, the Magpies gave themselves some breathing space with little under 20 minutes to play when Bailey-Gayle scored her second of the afternoon. Again, Lumsden was the provider as she pulled the ball back for Bailey-Gayle to strike past Thomas at the second attempt.
Katie Johnson superbly headed off the line to prevent Bailey-Gayle’s treble, as she placed herself in the right place at the right time to deny the attacker.
Dan McNamara made use of all five of his changes throughout the second half, with Skye Owen, Liv Fergusson and Meesha Dudley-Jones all entering the fray before Hannah Fryer and Lexie Harrison were afforded the last few minutes.
However, in added time, the Magpies scored a third to clinch all three points when substitute McQuade drove with the ball and unleashed an unstoppable effort which nestled into the net.
Full-time | Newcastle 3-0 Wolves
NEXT FIVE
11/02/24 – Brighton & Hove Albion (H) FA Cup
18/02/24 – West Brom (H) Challenge Cup
21/02/24 – Stourbridge (A)
25/02/24 – Liverpool Feds (H)
03/03/24 – AFC Fylde (A)
TEAMS
Newcastle | Donnelly, Stobbs, Watt, Kelly, Barker (Elson 85), Gibson (McQuade 87), Greenwood, Potts, Lumsden (Dodds 80), Bailey-Gayle (Soulsby 90), Cataldo.
Unused subs | Wilkinson.
Wolves | Thomas, Morphet, E. Cross, George (Harrison 89), Will (Owen 65), Hughes (Dudley-Jones 76), Johnson (Fryer 89), Toussaint, Roberts (Fergusson 76), Bramford, Merrick.
