After four weeks off, Newcastle United Women returned to action with a bang, with three huge games in eight days in March.
Tanya Oxtoby having won the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 Manager of the Month award for February, thanks to an unbeaten month after recording two wins and a draw.
The club also confirmed the signing of midfielder Morgan Gautrat on a permanent contract. The U.S. International who has won the World Cup twice initially joined the Lasses on loan from Orlando Pride last summer but despite not featuring since October due to injury, has now made the switch permanent.
Morgan said: “I’m delighted to have signed a permanent contract with the club. I have really enjoyed my time here and in the city so far. I’m excited to get back on the pitch with the girls and keep working towards our ambitions for this season and beyond.”
Defender Kaitlyn Torpey was missing as she was part of the Australia squad hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. She came on as a substitute in her side’s 4-0 win group stage win over Iran at the Gold Coast Stadium before starting against North Korea at the Perth Rectangular Stadium playing 77 minutes. She played the full game against China helping her side to the final after a 2-1 win.
Sheffield United (a) 1-1 (14 March 2026)
Kicking off their March fixtures, Newcastle United Women returned to action at Bramall Lane for a Saturday evening game, registering 22 shots, but were left frustrated against the Blades for the second time this season. Despite chances falling to Charlotte Wardlaw, Emily Murphy and Emilia Larsson, they were unable to find the breakthrough.
Former Newcastle striker Amy Andrews went close early on in the half before Simone Sherwood gave the hosts the lead in stoppage time with a volley at the near post. But in a bizarre ending to the half the visitors were back level when a long ball down the right released Jordan Nobbs, and her cross picked out an unmarked Murphy at the back post who chested down before firing home.
Both sides made changes throughout the second half, which disrupted the flow. But there was a chance for the Blades through Andrews, while Molly Pike let fly from 30 yards out for the Lasses. Connie Scofield had a chance to win it for the home side but her half volley came back off the post.
Tanya Oxtoby described the game as ‘Frustrating’ and that her side had ‘wasted 45 minutes.’
She added: “I don’t think we brought the energy levels to the game and didn’t match the levels that they showed. I didn’t think we were at it, and in this league you need to perform for 90 plus minutes, and that is a lesson learned tonight.”
One bright spot was the return to action of Emma Kelly after 17 weeks. The midfielder went off injured in the 3-1 Tyne-Wear derby victory over Sunderland back in November and has had a troublesome time with injuries over the past 12 months. This start and coming back into the side perhaps reflective of how highly valued she is by her manager.
Newcastle United: Anna Tamminen, Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes (c) (Deanna Cooper 64), Jordan Nobbs, Jemma Purfield, Emma Kelly (Jasmine McQuade 64), Molly Pike, Emilia Larsson (Oona Sevenius 87), Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden (Freya Gregory 64), Emily Murphy (Shania Hayles 75)
Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Morgan Gautrat, Małgorzata Grec, Jorja Fox
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Birmingham City (h) 2-0 (18 March 2026)
The Lasses extended their unbeaten run to five league games and closed the gap to second placed Birmingham to just two points following this midweek win under the floodlights.
A Jordan Nobbs strike into the top corner from distance following some neat build-up play from Molly Pike, put United ahead at half time. With Beth Lumsden coming off the bench to connect with Emily Murphy’s stretched pass, before lobbing over Adrianna Franch in the Blues goal.
The second half was perhaps the most dominant and complete performance of the season by Newcastle. With Anna Tamminen also making three important saves throughout.
Freya Gregory and Deanna Cooper came into the side for Beth Lumsden and Demi Stokes, while Morgan Gautrat made a first appearance since October. Oxtoby opted to go with a 3-5-2 formation and utilised both Emily Murphy and Emilia Larsson up front together.
Newcastle United: Anna Tamminen, Charlotte Wardlaw, Aoife Mannion, Deanna Cooper (Morgan Gautrat, 71), Jemma Purfield, Freya Gregory (Małgorzata Grec, 81), Emma Kelly (Demi Stokes, 71), Molly Pike, Jordan Nobbs (Shania Hayles, 81), Emilia Larsson (Beth Lumsden, 61), Emily Murphy.
Subs not used: Claudia Moan (GK), Oona Sevenius, Jasmine McQuade, Jorja Fox
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Crystal Palace (h) 0-0 (22 March 2026)
Newcastle ground out a goalless draw on Sunday evening, against a Palace side battling for promotion themselves. In a game that was perhaps more important not to lose than it was to win, the Lasses didn’t register a chance on goal until second-half added time when substitute Oona Sevenius sent a looping header on target. The only other chance of the game was an Emily Murphy header which went wide.
The only change from Wednesday was Beth Lumsden coming in for Emilia Larsson as the league’s two most in-form sides, failed to test either goalie in the first half. Palace’s best chance came when Jemma Purfield bravely blocked a My Cato chance which dipped over the bar. Palace enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half with Newcastle left grateful to goalie Anna Tamminen for making a series of excellent saves including one from point-blank range to deny a certain goal.
Newcastle United Women: Anna Tamminen, Charlotte Wardlaw, Jordan Nobbs, Jemma Purfield, Emma Kelly (Lois Joel 61), Molly Pike (Morgan Gautrat 53), Freya Gregory, Deanna Cooper, Aoife Mannion (c), Beth Lumsden (Shania Hayles 61), Emily Murphy (Oona Sevenius 90)
Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Demi Stokes, Malgorzata Grec, Jasmine McQuade, Jorja Fox
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Where that leaves NUFC
The top two get automatic promotion this season and third place gets you a play-off with the bottom team from the top tier.
Newcastle are now fourth in the table on 31 points, four points behind second placed Birmingham City who occupy the remaining automatic promotion spot. Palace are one point better off than the Lasses in third with the Eagles currently holding the sole playoff spot. Bristol City are the other team in the mix. They are one point behind Newcastle in fifth with all four sides having four games remaining.
As it stands, leaders Charlton Athletic need just four points from their final three games to clinch promotion. United need Birmingham to drop points in at least two of their remaining games with the Lasses winning all of theirs if they are to get automatic promotion this season.
Third place is good enough for a play-off which would pair them against the WSL 1 bottom placed side, that is likely to be Leicester City or West Ham United.
What’s coming up
Next Sunday sees the Lasses travel to the Stadium of Light for a Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland, having won the last three games against their local rivals (Eddie Howe Take Note!). With 14,000 fans expected to travel for their shortest away trip of the season.
Newcastle then host Nottingham Forest the following week, before a trip to Ashton Gate to play Bristol City and then finally a game with Durham on the final day of the season at Gateshead International Stadium on May 2nd.