Impressive Away Draw On Opening Day

London was indeed Calling to the faraway town this past weekend as Newcastle United Women, backed by the vast majority of the record 1,781 crowd, made the 307 mile trip from Kingston Park to Hayes Lane, Bromley to take on London City Lionesses, many people's pick for promotion this season, in their first Barclays Women's Championship match. 

To quote Steve Kelly, London City Lionesses will "be a bit like going through doors of a fairground ghost train..... who knows what will happen". I predicted a 1-2 away win on Saturday, didn't quite get that right but a difficult away point was certainly a positive start to the season. Yes, not everything clicked on the day and there's still things to build on but there are teams in the league in a far worse position after the first round of matches. 

Photo credit: Gavan Mcnally

The first real chance for either team came 5 minutes into the first half, an in-swinging corner kick from new NUW signing Deanna Cooper floated dangerously into the 6 yard box but evaded everyone including London City Lionesses new goal keeper, Emily Orman, recently acquired from WSL giants Chelsea as well as representing England at u17 and u19 level. 

Lionesses captain and statement summer signing Kosovare Asllani, formerly of Sela Cup opponents AC Milan and holder of 187 caps for Sweden, made her first contribution to the match a minute later. A burst of pace down the left wing saw Asllani get ahead of Elysia Boddy, not something that happened often during the match, but Asllani's cross into the box was easily cut out by new NUW goalkeeper Claudia Moan. 

In the early minutes of the match the home team were finding some success down both wings. An attack down the right wing from Finland international Lotta Lindström resulted in a potentially dangerous ball across the penalty area to oncoming defender Emma Mukandi but it was slightly too close to Claudia to cause any problems. 

Possible penalty shout for the visitors 10 minutes in. England Lioness Demi Stokes drove towards the penalty area, her run was halted right on the edge of the box but neither a free kick or a penalty was given by the referee. The long range follow up shot from Boddy did not quite dip enough to recreate her wonder goal from the Milan match at St. James' Park this summer. 

Lindström once again came close to getting in behind United's back four but the pass she was running on to was cut out by Lia Cataldo, starting her first full season with NUW.  A promising partnership seems to be developing between Cataldo and Katie Barker, a run down the right wing from the half way line by Cataldo led to a one two with Barker on the edge of the penalty area and a dangerous cross into the box but first NUW signing of the summer Shania Hayles couldn't quite put this one away.

Just after quarter of an hour, the home team this time had a shout for a penalty. Asllani this time getting round Charlotte Potts and making a run into the box. The run was stopped via a Potts sliding tackle and the referee didn't point to the spot despite appeals from the home fans behind the goal. 

Hayles made history in the 19th minute, Jasmine McQuade won the ball in midfield and played a diagonal ball into the box for Hayles to run on to. Despite a slightly heavy first touch, the Jamaican forward reacted quicker than Orman and hit a low shot past the oncoming keeper, first shot on target in the match for NUW and their first goal in the Barclays Women's Championship, to the delight of the travelling fans at the opposite end of the pitch. Instant Geordie folklore status for Shania. 

Shortly after the goal, Cataldo and Barker again linked up effectively to bring the ball the length of the pitch down the right wing, unfortunately Barker was unable to pick anyone out with her ball into the box. 

Stroke of luck for the visitors on 33 minutes, an early ball from Boye-Hlorkah on the right wing into the penalty area found the lively Lindström who's left foot shot from 12 yards out gave Moan no chance at stopping it but rattled the post. 

The equaliser came after 38 minutes. Asllani picking up the ball in the centre circle played a through ball down the right wing for Lindström to run on to, after getting ahead of Cooper she played a ball back across the box, splitting Cooper and Cataldo, to Asllani who had continued her run and could pick her spot. 

Hayles could have put NUW 1-2 up just before half time, the ball found it's way to her yards from goal, how she missed I'm not sure even Shania knows. 99 times out of 100 that chance goes in the back of the net. Booking for Asllani on 43 minutes for a foul on Cataldo then a booking for Stokes 5 minutes into injury time for holding Asllani, fortunately a free kick on the edge of the box rather than a penalty. 

Half time saw summer signing Rachel Furness replaced by crowd favourite Amber-Keegan Stobbs following a clash between Furness and London City's Julia Roddar towards the end of the first half. 

Chances were few and far between for both sides in the second half. A cagey second 45 saw bookings and subs aplenty but both teams largely cancelled each other out in midfield. 

Booking for Lionesses defender Emma Mukandi on 53 minutes for a foul on Deanna Cooper. 

A powerful 30 yard free kick from Asllani on the hour mark was fortunately hit straight at Claudia.

62 mins saw former Sheffield United winger Sophie Haywood replace goal scorer Shania Hayles. Hopefully not an injury that will keep Hayles out long. 68 minutes saw former London City Lioness captain Lois Joel replace Lia Cataldo and on loan Crystal Palace winger Isabella Sibley replace Jas McQuade.

NUW made their final substitution on 84 minutes, Amy Andrews making way for Beth Lumsden.

Approaching 90 minutes, a 20 yard shot from Boddy, who impressed across the 90 minutes, went narrowly over the bar. 

Stobbs went into the book on 92 minutes for what seemed nothing more than a collision with an opposing midfielder. 

Lumsden twice almost created a winner in the closing moments of the match. On 96 minutes Beth beat two defenders on the edge of the box but couldn't quite find space to get a shot off. Shortly after, she played in Sibley who was in on goal. Somewhat controversially the referee awarded a corner then blew for full time before allowing the corner to be taken. 

Newcastle United Women: Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo (Lois Joel 68), Deanna Cooper, Charlotte Potts, Demi Stokes, Katie Barker, Elysia Boddy, Rachel Furness (Amber-Keegan Stobbs 45), Shania Hayles (Sophie Haywood 62), Jasmine McQuade (Isabella Sibley 68), Amy Andrews (Beth Lumsden 85).

Up next, Sheffield United come to Kingston Park on 22nd September for the home opener. 

A lot of teams will leave Hayes Lane without any points this season so a draw was by no means a bad result. If Asllani's injury late in the match doesn't keep her out long, the partnership of Asllani and Lindström will score goals this season. 

Midfielder Emma Kelly, recovering from injury, was a miss I thought, similarly not having the pace of winger Kacie Elson available, I believe out of the squad due to illness. Might we have got a winner if Beth Lumsden came on earlier, we'll never know. Area's to build on but a great result to start the season, hopefully the first win in the Championship, in front of the home fans, a week on Sunday.