The Newcastle United Women’s team had made a perfect start to the season with three league wins, scoring eight goals and conceding only one as they look to win the title and get promotion to the Super League.
The next challenge was Leicester City, who have dropped into the second tier from the Super League.
Ahead of this fourth league match of the season, the club announced that Abbie Richardson had signed her first senior contract with the club. The 18-year-old becoming the first player to progress through the academy and sign a professional deal. The defender has started five games for the Under-21s this campaign and scored the winning penalty against Everton in the PGA Cup last weekend.
On signing Abbie said: “It’s an unreal feeling. Growing up as a Newcastle fan, it means so much especially for my family who have been fans their whole lives.”
The following day the club announced that goalkeeper Sofia Borg also signed her first professional contract. The 18-year-old becomes the youngest Australian to sign a professional contract in England having joined from Western Australian football Academy last season on a trial period. She came into the season essentially as the third choice goalie given the players who departed over the summer and this contract perhaps was a formality.
No fewer than seven players have been called up by their countries for next week’s international break. Hildur Antonsdóttir (Iceland), Kaitlyn Torpey (Australia) and Charlotte Wardlaw (Scotland U23s) were named. While Freya Gregory, Kathleen McGovern, Rachel McLauchlan and Martha Thomas all got selected by Scotland.
United Manager Tanya Oxtoby made a couple of changes to her side. Hildur Antonsdóttir came back in for Lois Joel in the holding midfield position. Captain Rachel McLauchlan was missing from the matchday squad with Charlotte Wardlaw, a near ever present at right back last season, taking her place. The captain’s armband went to Jemma Purfield.
There were debuts for Jessie Gale (back from England duty) and Hanna Németh, who both came on as substitutes towards the end of the second half.
Leicester arrived with a star-studded line up, Alisha Lehmann perhaps the most recognisable figure. She boasts 240,000 followers on social media and it was something of a surprise to see her stick by the Foxes following their relegation. Also included was former Aston Villa right back Sarah Mayling who is the new captain. While former United forward Poppy Pritchard came home for the weekend wearing the visitors’ number nine shirt.
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
Match Report
Newcastle looked fired up in the opening exchanges and very nearly got a breakthrough just three minutes in. Beth Lumsden advanced well down the left, riding three challenges before slipping the ball through to Kathleen McGovern, who under pressure from Leicester defenders fired over.
Katie Bradley had the next chance on ten minutes when she received the ball on the half turn, before creating space to avoid her marker but dragging her effort wide of the far post.
But two minutes later the Newcastle United Women’s team were ahead when Mollie Lambert sent the ball towards McGovern on the edge of the area. The latter’s sliced effort fell backwards and landed at the feet of Charlotte Wardlaw who fired in off the post after her initial effort rebounded off a defender. There was even a question of handball during the build-up so United could have got a penalty if not scoring. It was the youngster’s first goal for the club and was an excellent reward for her recall to the side.
While Leicester grew back into the game and were very impressive in possession, it would be a frustrating half for Lehmann who ended it on the running track spitting out blood after the ball caught her in the face. The whistle went for the break before she could finish receiving treatment.
Once again conditions were difficult with an even stronger wind than last week’s game and a downpour either side of half time making things worse.
But the second half began with Leicester still playing well and giving the Lasses a decent game. Heather Payne looked good at left back while Jess Ziu seemed to be pulling the strings for the Foxes in midfield.
Newcastle looked happy to play on the counter and created a good chance when Katie Bradley crossed towards McGovern. But the Scottish international striker saw her close range shot stopped by Foxes goalie Katie Keane with the rebound dropping to Kaitlyn Torpey who closed in fast but could only watch as her goalbound effort was stopped by the recovering Keane.
Leicester’s best moment came soon after when winger Araya Dennis split the defence with a pass to feed Poppy Pritchard, but the Morpeth-born forward saw her well hit shot curl past Anna Tamminen in the United goal only for the Finnish shot stopper to throw out a last ditch hand to turn the ball aside for a corner. It looked like a certain goal and was the start of the momentum swinging back in the home side’s favour.
Jordan Nobbs arrived off the bench and a change of shape from 4-4-2 to that of 4-3-3 with the ex-England international pulling the strings in a number ten role.
Kaitlyn Torpey had to be alert with a great challenge to win the ball from Dennis on the edge of the area to stop another attack before Nobbs turned the game fully in United’s way. A beautiful pass out wide from the outside of Beth Lumsden’s foot found Nobbs who slid to reach the ball before digging it out and sent an inch perfect cross to the middle. Thomas leapt well and executed a perfect glancing header into the far corner.
It’s perhaps moments like this where promotions are won and with 18 games to go there is plenty to still be decided. But against a side residing in the top flight last season this felt like a huge moment. The crowd sensed it too with the largest attendance of the season greeting the celebrating players.
Two minutes later Thomas had scored again. A different type of finish this time, but equally brilliant. A smart through ball from Lumsden from inside her own half found Thomas who controlled well running towards goal. Still with plenty to do she turned one way then the next getting inside Simone Sherwood, before controlling with her right foot, sending Keane the wrong way before finding the net with a low finish.
Like the previous week Thomas could have had a hat trick. She hooked a volley towards goal only to see it come back off the post with Aoife Mannion’s follow up stopped by Keane. Then on 88 minutes her long range effort from 25 yards out, was sailing into the top corner before Keane made an outstanding save to tip it wide.
With further changes made, a slight defensive re-shuffle saw Mannion moved to right back. While Leicester introduced Missy Goodwin and Paulina Nystrom as attacking options to try and find a way back into a game out of their control. Jessie Gale was a lively addition down the United left that saw her tussle with Mayling.
Photo by Adam Mackman via The Mag
While Hanna Nemeth (pictured above with Adam) looked a composed presence in the back four as she played her first competitive minutes since arriving from Werder Bremen.
There was time to add one more and really put the seal on a statement victory, when Keane missed her punched clearance from a United corner. The ball bounced off the bar and fell to Mannion who had her back to goal, before unleashing an impressive overhead kick to make it 4-0.
Subs not used: Kayla Rendell, Freya Gregory, Oona Sevenius, Gemma Evans.
Leicester City: Katie Keane, Heather Payne, Jessie Stapleton, Simone Sherwood (Emilia Pelgander 84), Asmita Ale, Sarah Mayling, Libby Bance, Jess Ziu (Missy Goodwin 58), Araya Dennis (Paulina Nystrom 63), Poppy Pritchard, Alisha Lehmann.
Subs not used: Phoebe Baker, Leah Eddie, Denny Draper, Ffion Bowen, Beau King.
Where that leaves the Newcastle United Women’s team
A second straight four goal haul and fourth straight league win keeps the Lasses at the top with twelve points, two ahead of Sunderland, with Ipswich and Southampton also still unbeaten.
Women's Super League WSL2 Table 2026/27 - 27 September 2026
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle United | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 12 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Southampton | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Leicester City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 6 |
| 8 | Bristol City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 3 |
| 10 | Burnley | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 |
| 11 | Watford | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 2 |
| 12 | Durham | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 0 |
Leicester played well and are a good side but were torn apart in the final quarter of the game by a ruthless United attack. A statement win if ever there was one against a side playing a level above Newcastle last season.
There is only one automatic promotion spot up for grabs this year. With the second and third placed sides entering a play-off to decide who then takes part in the relegation/promotion game against the team finishing second bottom of WSL 1.
What’s coming up
Newcastle have two more games before the first international break of the season. They travel to Hednesford on Wednesday to take on Aston Villa in the league cup, whilst they will face a hostile reception at Maiden Castle on Sunday when Durham entertain them in the fifth league match of the season.
They are next at home again when they host Sunderland in the league cup at Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday 18th October.