What happened in the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle United Women and Sunderland
Newcastle United Women were held to a goalless draw by Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland.
Newcastle United drew 0-0 with Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Women’s Super League 2 table.
Sunderland beat the Lady Magpies 1-0 at the Gateshead International Stadium in the League Cup a month ago, and another victory would have seen them move level on points with their bitter rivals at the top of the division.
However, for the most part, Newcastle were the only side who looked likely to win, with WSL 2 joint-top scorer Martha Thomas going close twice from close range, once in each half.
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While they may be disappointed not to have come away with maximum points, the result extended Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the WSL 2 season to eight matches.
Newcastle boss Tanya Oxtoby made two changes from the 3-0 win over Burnley, recalling goalkeeper Anna Tamminen after three matches out through injury, while Hildur Antonsdottir replaced Katie Bradley in midfield.
Tamminen breathed a sigh of relief just four minutes in when Elise Hughes’ effort struck the side netting after the striker had been set up by Katy Watson, who had got the better of Kaitlyn Torpey down the right.
Although both teams enjoyed their fair share of possession, it was Newcastle who looked the more threatening in the first half. Sunderland goalkeeper Frances Stenson kept out Rachel McLauchlan’s long-range strike before producing an excellent low save to deny Thomas from eight yards out.
Newcastle enjoyed greater control after the break and were left wondering how they had not taken the lead after Thomas and Beth Lumsden squandered two golden opportunities in quick succession.
Jordan Nobbs broke away down the right and picked out Thomas, who found herself in a similar position to her earlier opportunity but could not hit the target. Substitute Leanne Kiernan then stung the palms of Stenson, before Lumsden blazed the loose ball wide from inside the box.
Nobbs looked to have wasted another golden opportunity late on when she latched onto Thomas’ pass in behind, but the offside flag spared her blushes after Stenson had made the save.
The Lady Magpies extended their unbeaten WSL 2 run against the Black Cats to five matches. The reverse fixture takes place at St James’ Park on March 28.
Newcastle United XI: Tamminen, McLauchlan, Nemeth, Evans, Torpey, Antonsdottir (Kiernan 60) , Joel, Lumsden (Gregory 74), Thomas, Nobbs, McGovern (Lambert, 45). Unused subs: Rendell, Wardlaw, Purfield, Akpan, Mannion, Gale.