The big storm led to windy conditions and a rubbish strewn pitch as the Newcastle United Women’s team took on their Nottingham Forest counterparts at the City Ground.

With Anna Tamminen out injured, Kayla Rendell made her first league start.

Just prior to kick off the club announced they had signed another keeper, Soffia Kelly, on a two-week emergency loan deal from Aston Villa. Still only 19 Kelly has represented Wales at youth level and spent the second half of last season on loan at Rangers.

An unfamiliar 5-2-3 formation saw the usual back four changed with Gemma Evans coming in for her first league start and forming a back three alongside Aoife Mannion and Rachel McClauchlan.

With Newcastle’s most creative player Beth Lumsden pushed into a wing back role. For some reason Jemma Purfield, who hasn’t put a foot wrong all season, was dropped to the bench.

That also meant Jordan Nobbs played out wide to support Martha Thomas and Kathleen McGovern up front.

Match Report

Despite going with a defensive formation Newcastle dominated the opening ten minutes camped in the Forest half. Their best chance came just three minutes in when a short corner routine to Lumsden saw her deflected shot flicked on top of the net by Katie Bradley.

But the home side took the lead out of nothing when Codie Thomas advanced down the right before slipping a ball to Leticia McKenna who fired a shot-come-cross on the turn and somehow squeezed home at the near post

After that Forest took control and this led to them doubling their lead when a reckless lunge in from Gemma Evans on Tuva Espas, who was going away from goal, gave away a penalty. McKenna converted emphatically and the Lady Mags were down by two goals after just 15 minutes.

Newcastle struggled to get a foothold back into the game in what was a largely forgettable first half. Forest creating a couple of half chances in the last ten minutes of it when Norwegian forward Espas charged forward with the ball at her feet, before Evans forced her wide. And then as half-time loomed, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah sprayed a perfect pass out wide to the impressive right wing back Codie Thomas, who played it centrally to McKenna. But the goal scorer was unable to complete her hat-trick, dispossessed before she could finish off a fantastic team move.

Down by a pair of goals at half-time, it was crying out for United to make changes to both shape and personnel. Oxtoby did make one change, a defensive midfielder was brought off for….another defensive midfielder, as Hildur Antonsdottir made way for Lois Joel. But the Lasses did at least start playing with a more aggressive press. That seemed to work when Thomas reacted quickest to Katie Cox giving the ball away. However, the Forest goalie saved the resulting shot.

They did get a goal back five minutes in thanks to Lumsden having a rare foray forward as she slalomed her way past three Forest players. She shifted the ball on to her right foot from her left then back again several times before picking out McGovern with a perfect pass who fired home from short distance to cut the arrears.

Just before the hour mark, Forest went close, with Freya Thomas’ shot blocked and Abbie Lafayette getting the ball into dangerous positions near the byline.

Newcastle had the majority of possession in Forest’s half but appeared to struggle against a strong home defence with Georgia Brougham and Hannah Coan both looking unbeatable. That was until five minutes before the end.

A Jordan Nobbs cross caused chaos in the box as substitute Mollie Lambert slid in to force the ball goalwards and Thomas made sure it went over the line for the equaliser.

The momentum was certainly now with the Lasses who were pushing for a late winner. They could have snatched all three points but Kaitlyn Torpey blazed over the bar.

Newcastle United: Kayla Rendell, Beth Lumsden, Rachel McLauchlan (c), Aoife Mannion, Gemma Evans, Kaitlyn Torpey, Hildur Antonsdóttir (Lois Joel 46), Katie Bradley (Mollie Lambert 71), Jordan Nobbs, Kathleen McGovern (Jessie Gale 81), Martha Thomas (Leanne Kiernan 90).

Subs not used: Soffia Kelly, Charlotte Wardlaw, Jemma Purfield, Hanna Németh, Abbie Richardson.

Nottingham Forest: Katie Cox, Georgia Brougham, Hannah Coan, Chloe Mustaki, Codie Thomas (Ebba Hed 76), Alana Murphy, Freya Thomas, Abbie Lafayette, Leticia McKenna (Tove Almqvist 86), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Tuva Espås (Rachel Rowe 60).

Subs not used: Emily Batty, Deanne Rose, Melissa Johnson, Ilona Walta, Grace McEwen, Georgie Ferguson.

Where that leaves the Newcastle United Women’s team

The first points dropped in the league this season but given they were two down away to an unbeaten side meant this was a good point when all things are considered.

Main promotion rivals Sunderland lost at another unbeaten side, Ipswich. Meaning Newcastle actually increased their lead over the Wearsiders.

Ipswich now move to second, with Sunderland third and Bristol City and Forest tied on ten points. Newcastle, Ipswich and Forest are the only sides left unbeaten this season in the league.

Women's Super League WSL2 Table 2026/27 - 25 October 2026

Pos	Team	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Newcastle United Women	6	5	1	0	16	3	13	16
2	Ipswich Town Women	6	4	2	0	10	4	6	14
3	Sunderland Women	6	4	1	1	12	7	5	13
4	Bristol City Women	6	3	1	2	12	9	3	10
5	Nottingham Forest Women	6	2	4	0	10	7	3	10
6	Southampton Women	6	1	4	1	7	6	1	7
7	Wolverhampton Wanderers Women	6	2	1	3	11	12	-1	7
8	Leicester City Women	6	2	1	3	8	12	-4	7
9	Sheffield United Women	6	2	0	4	11	14	-3	6
10	Watford FC Women	6	1	3	2	10	13	-3	6
11	Burnley Ladies	6	0	2	4	4	11	-7	2
12	Durham Women	6	0	0	6	7	20	-13	0

Most importantly, only the team that finishes top of the table is guaranteed to be promoted to the Super League, so six league matches gone and 16 points banked, just another 16 league games to go for the Newcastle United Women’s team.

After the game Manager Tanya Oxtoby spoke of her confidence in turning the score around:

“I never doubted we were going to get back in the game. I was just thinking (in the first half), ‘how are we in this position?’ she said.

“In the first half we looked disjointed – the two goals we conceded were really unlike us in terms of the manner in which we conceded them. But I asked for a response from the players at half time, and we got one.”

“I thought our energy, intent and everything about us in the second half was brilliant. If this was last season, there’s no way that response would have happened.” she added.

What’s coming up for the Newcastle United Women’s team

Newcastle return to League Cup action on Sunday as they make the short trip to South Shields to take on Durham.

Their next league game is on Sunday, 8th November with Burnley set to visit St James’ Park.