All three teams in action, an awards evening and the promise of further investment as financial accounts are released. It’s certainly been another busy week on the women’s football scene.
The first local derby of 2025 wasn’t a classic but did have some “classic derby” moments. Sunderland took full advantage of a surprisingly slow start by Durham at the Stadium of Light – it took the visitors until nearly half-time to force a fantastic save from Demi Lambourne from a powerful shot from Mollie Lambert.
By that time, Katie Kitching had already set up Libbi McInnes for 1-0 and had hit the inside of the post herself. The New Zealander took a corner two minutes into the second half which was eventually forced home by Amy Goddard to double the host’s lead.
That second goal being so early after the restart really upset Durham’s comeback plans. Hepple had a free-kick well saved, Lambourne got behind a Lily Crosthwaite shot after a great run. They didn’t have enough to fight back against a well-organised team that was better on the day. They’ll pick themselves up in time for their second derby of the month, a week on Sunday at Maiden Castle.
Sunderland finally got their first Championship win at the Stadium of Light, and definitely deserved it.
Newcastle scored from three of their six shots against a difficult Bristol side, who scored from each of their two! In a ding-dong battle at Kingston Park, the home side had to regain the lead twice, before holding on to take the points.
Two belters from Beth Lumsden, and the winner from Deanna Cooper who was in the right place at the right time, keep Newcastle in the hunt for promotion. Although sitting in seventh with 23 points, nine points off top, they have two games in hand.
It’s all positive news for Newcastle. Their women’s side was mentioned when the club’s annual accounts were released, showing the profile the team now has. The club admitted that they will ‘continue to invest’ in the team after seeing an uplift in their financial performance.
A Newcastle statement accompanying the accounts read: “Since becoming full time professional the Club has been promoted to the FA WSL Championship. The group continues to invest to challenge for promotion to the WSL and Newcastle United Women currently sits mid table in the FAWSL Championship.”
It’s another week off for the league this coming weekend, as the FA Cup returns at the quarter finals stage. Sunderland are the only non-WSL side left in the competition and have the tough task of facing Manchester United away on Saturday, kick-off 5.15pm).
“It’s a huge game,” Tash Fenton, their captain, informed me after the derby win. “A different kind of challenge, but it’s something that we’re all really looking forward to. The club hasn’t made the quarter finals for a while. We’ve just got to go and leave it all out there.”
After the excitement of The Stadium of Light, I made my way to Ramside Hall in Durham for the North East Football Writers’ Awards. A great occasion, organised by wordsmith Colin Young and hosted by BBC Radio 5Live’s Ian Dennis.
Newcastle’s Elysia Boddy won the Young Player of The Year Award while Mollie Lambert took the Senior prize.
Speaking to ‘The Durham Roarcast’ podcast at the ceremony, ‘Lambo’ paid tribute to her teammates and her family; many of whom were present, creating the biggest cheer of the night As with many of the players representing our clubs today, there has been many sacrifices, and great expense spent, by individuals and their families to get them to the Professional-stage today.
“It’s been an amazing year; this just tops it off,” the award-winner smiled.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-statement-promises-further-31144093
