Newcastle 2-0 Portsmouth | Match report

Biting February conditions swept across Gateshead as Newcastle United Women welcomed Portsmouth Women for an anticipated WSL2 encounter that felt anything but a mid‑season routine game. Newcastle are chasing down a playoff place, while Portsmouth arrived looking to pull away from the relegation zone.

and fu

ll of bite.

In to the game and the away side with Jazz Bull picked up possession on the right and shaped a teasing cross towards the far post. It drifted over Anna Tamminen, had the keeper scrambling, and clipped the top of the bar.

Newcastle's possession based football finally paid off in the 42nd minute. Lois Joel exchanged a sharp one‑two with Jordan Nobbs, and a whipped cross into the path of Murphy arriving through the middle. One composed touch, one confident finish, and Newcastle had the breakthrough they’d been threatening, taking a deserved 1–0 lead into the closing stages of the half.

Newcastle came out after the break looking to build on their narrow lead, and they nearly doubled it six minutes into the second half. Murphy, lively throughout, slipped a perfectly weighted pass through the Portsmouth back line to send Jordan Nobbs clean through on goal. With Jess Gray hesitating between rushing out or holding her ground, Nobbs tried to lift the ball over the keeper, but her lob lacked the height to clear the Portsmouth stopper, who gratefully gathered.

The game never truly settled, the freezing conditions and constant midfield battles making it a scrappy, hard‑fought affair. Portsmouth pushed for a way back, but Newcastle’s defensive shape held firm, protecting Anna Tamminen and limiting the visitors to half‑chances as the minutes ticked away.

Then, in the 90th minute, Newcastle finally put the contest to bed. Murphy collected the ball on the edge of the box and, instead of forcing a shot, calmly laid it off to Beth Lumsden arriving in support. Lumsden struck low and true, her effort skidding across the turf and flying past Gray to seal the points for the Magpies.

It wasn’t a spectacle, but it didn’t need to be. Newcastle ground out a vital 2–0 win, secured a clean sheet, and strengthened their push for promotion to WSL1—exactly the kind of gritty performance required in a season where every point matters.

Starting XI: Tamminen, Wardlaw, Mannion, Purfield, Torpey, Nobbs, Pike (McQuade 85), Joel, Larsson (Lumsden 57), Murphy, Gregory (Charley 73).

Subs not used: Moan, Stokes, Hayles.