Newcastle United 2-2 Bristol City (Match Report)

Newcastle United Women took a slender 1-0 lead into halftime in their FA Women’s Championship clash against Bristol City, thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Oona Sevenius that capped off a lively and chance-filled opening 45 minutes at Gateshead International Stadium.

The hosts started brightly, with Sevenius causing problems down the right flank. In the 6th minute, she delivered a teasing cross into the box that found Jordan Nobbs, but the midfielder couldn’t keep her shot down as she fired over while rising to meet the ball. Bristol City responded quickly with a near miss of their own. In the 9th minute, Ella Dafeur latched onto a loose ball following a defensive clearance and struck the post from a tight angle, giving Newcastle an early scare.

The Lasses continued to press, and in the 11th minute, a slick move saw Morgan Gautrat pick out Demi Stokes at the back post. Her low drive was well saved by Fran Bentley, who turned the effort around the post to keep the scores level. Newcastle’s attacking intent remained relentless. On 26 minutes, Sevenius again found space to shoot, but her effort was blocked. The rebound fell to Lois Joel, who tried her luck through a crowded penalty area but sent her shot over the bar.

Perhaps the most audacious moment came in the 35th minute when Deanna Cooper nearly scored from the halfway line. She met Bentley’s goal-kick with a looping header that sailed narrowly wide, catching the Robins’ keeper off guard. The breakthrough finally came in first-half stoppage time. A corner from Newcastle wasn’t properly cleared by the Bristol City defence, and Sevenius pounced to slot home from close range, giving the home side a deserved lead heading into the break.

The second half of Newcastle United Women’s clash with Bristol City Women delivered drama, controversy, and late heroics as both sides battled to a 2-2 draw in the FA Women’s Championship.

Just two minutes after the restart, Bristol City found their equaliser. A surging run down the right from Ward ended with a precise cut-back to Hardy, who made no mistake from close range. Newcastle’s defence was caught napping, and the visitors seized the momentum.

Tensions flared soon after, with Bristol City head coach Charlotte Healy shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute for dissent. The game remained open, and in the 58th minute, Newcastle goalkeeper Liefting produced a stunning point-blank save to deny Sophie Ingle, keeping the scores level. Newcastle responded with flair in the 61st minute as Murphy cleverly dummied a pass to allow Stokes’ cross to reach Pike, but her shot lacked the power to trouble Bentley.

Manager Becky Langley made a double substitution in the 74th minute, bringing on Lumsden and Gregory for Sevenius and Pike to inject fresh energy down the flanks. However, it was Bristol City who struck next. In the 77th minute, Jones danced through midfield and laid it off to Hardy, who coolly slotted home her second of the match to put the Robins ahead.

Langley reacted swiftly with another double change, introducing Boddy and McQuade for Nobbs and Gautrat. But frustration boiled over in the 81st minute when Langley herself was booked for protesting a foul on Cooper.

Just when it looked like the visitors would leave with all three points, Lois Joel produced a moment of magic in the 89th minute. Spotting Bentley off her line, she unleashed a thunderous strike from over 30 yards that flew into the net, sending the home crowd into raptures in the dying moments, Cooper had a chance to win it for Newcastle but fired over the bar in the fifth minute of added time.

The match ended 2-2, a fair result after a pulsating contest that showcased grit, skill, and late drama from both sides.

NUFC (4-3-3): Liefting, Cataldo, Mannion, Cooper, Stokes, Nobbs, Guatrat, Joel, Sevenius, Murphy, Pike.

Subs: Moan (GK), Wardlaw, Grec, Boddy, McQuade, Gregory, Lumsden, Hayles.

Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium

Attendance: 2,032

Player of the match: Rio Hardy