Working Sundays

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Newcastle United (Women’s Super League 2)

I don’t get paid a lot for watching women’s football, but it pays better than working eight hours at McDonalds and when Forest are at home it only takes three hours out of my day. The agreement with the wife is I work a Sunday and that money goes towards shopping, I also get out of going to the shops, a no brainer?

I watched Newcastle play for the first time on Wednesday at Everton and was impressed all be it in 2-0 defeat against top tier established opponents, but I didn’t realise hardly any of their players from the midweek Subway Cup match at Goodison Park would be featuring today?

In all I count nine changes from that team, and with limited knowledge of the women’s game I was hoping my midweek trip would have helped me recognise a few faces, but thankfully I know the likes of Jordan Nobbs and Martha Thomas who are in the starting line-up, both experienced international footballers with England and Scotland respectively.

Forest I do recognise a few more, I have watched all of their home games so far this season and they are still unbeaten, but a real test today against the league leaders.

The clocks have gone back, the wind is blowing but the sun is out bright, a 2pm kick off but due to the proximity of the City Ground to my house I’m able to leave around 1pm, I’m looking for places to park around Musters Road without any luck, so have to pop my motor by the cricket ground where it’s £3.50 until 4pm, still only a short walk across the Radcliffe Road and into the clubs main reception and car park.

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The Venue

There’s a bit a queue today, Newcastle were well backed (and well voiced) on Wednesday night and they have brought their travelling posse with them, because of Storm Boelo and the high winds the face painting and other kids activities are being moved indoors, none of that is for me so after a quick magic wand at the turnstiles by a half arsed steward, I’m through and up to the steps towards the middle section of the Main Stand, I couldn’t even get my usual pew despite buying my ticket well in advance, but on the other side of the gangway the view is almost, just as good.

Just a post to my right obscures part of the goal, the ground embed in red, the green surface has a few leaves blown on to it from the windy weather, the new advertising boardings seemingly dictate the lighting as every time the colour of them changes it has a huge effect to the stadium surround. Just fans in the Main Stand today, the oldest surviving of all four City Ground sides, the rest empty, but this one is pretty toasty, the low roof keeping us all well covered and cool, as the players warm up below.

The Game

I’m expecting Newcastle to be too strong today but as I found out yesterday when Boreham Wood started slowly against Fylde, football changes when weather conditions are much harder, a leveller perhaps, and Forest are more up for it from the beginning, they have a lot of the ball and stifle their opponents attack, it’s probably the best I have seen them this season, as they confidently stop every through ball in defence, and attack with freedom going forward.

One attacker Leticia McKenna is really in the mood, she’s racing down the right and into the box before unleashing hard and high, apparently it’s a cross to the back stick which beats the keeper at the near post, a thunderbolt aided by the wind? Whatever it was, Forest will take that.

It’s the perfect start after ten minutes and just five minutes later things go from bad to worse for Newcastle who concede a soft penalty after Tuva Espas is felled inside the area. Leticia McKenna steps up and scores, the home fans are enjoying the Reds fast goalscoring start.

Head Coach Tom Mallinson has his side really well drilled, it’s 3-4-3 which moves into a 5-4-1 and Newcastle simply can’t play through it, an impressive half ends with the Reds in full control, but you can’t help feeling the away side, let’s not forget the table topping visitors, can be as bad in the second 45.

The Score

And they are not. Immediately you can tell the difference as with one change at the break, Newcastle come out fast, with the bit between their teeth, on the front foot, and within five minutes they have a goal back, Beth Lumsden who’s been a decent outlet on the right, getting to the by-line and crossing low for Kathleen McGovern to crash home from close range.

You feel a second is going to soon come but Forest do well, a tactical tweak has Rachel Rowe replace Espas and that gives extra legs in midfield, Rowe has a good half an hours’ football and puts a proper shift in going close with efforts on a couple of occasions but as Forest retreat late on, Newcastle throw the kitchen sink forward, Tanya Oxtoby calls for more attacking reinforcements, Mollie Lambert and Jessie Gale come on, and with four minutes remaining, Jordan Nobbs puts a ball in which causes carnage, Chloe Mustaki gets it stuck between her legs and Martha Thomas pokes home a leveller, there’s still time for another, but Forest hold on to what in the end is a good point, whilst at the same time being annoyed after arguably two dropped, from such a good position they were in.

The Stars

Forest were good in their defensive third but they do lack real quality in forward areas. Katie Cox their twenty year old goalkeeper is a solid shot stopper and one to watch for the future. She’s on loan from Chelsea, has good size and stature but played a couple of poor passes which were cut out, almost leading to goals.

I love the back three, all bringing something different to the table, Mustaki reads the game well, Hannah Coan is tall and leggy, aerially dominant, Georgia Brougham such a calm and assured player when in possession.

At left back Abbie Lafayette is a real solid pro of high quality for this level, she knows the game well and links up every now and again with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah who is the most talented footballer in red, she reminds me of Morgan Gibbs-White of the men's team, easy on the eye in that number ten role, every now and again tricking and teasing an opponent and getting people like myself, sat watching, excited.

As for Newcastle, well much the different eleven that I saw at Everton, Kayla Rendell who came on in the second half at Goodison looks a really solid young English keeper, she’s on loan from Manchester United. Rachel McLauchlan got forward well from right back and she linked up well with Beth Lumsden who was arguably the games best player. Martha Thomas showing her quality, she never stopped working and capped off a decent shift with an all important equalising goal.

The Verdict

For 45 minutes Newcastle weren’t as good as I thought they might be, but for the second half of the match they shown why they are top of the league with long territorial advantage against a stern, solid, structured, testing team.

Forest are decent, but maybe don’t create enough to turn draws into wins right now, they’ll be mid/top half for sure, whilst Newcastle have the tools (and squad size) for promotion, they had the added bonus of their rivals Sunderland getting beat at Ipswich, although that brings the Tractor Girls now into play, for the potential promotion party race and run in.

The Teams

Nottingham Forest: Katie Cox, Georgia Brougham, Hannah Coan, Chloe Mustaki, Codie Thomas (Ebba Hed 77), Alana Murphy, Freya Thomas, Abbie Lafayette, Leticia McKenna (Tove Almqvist 87), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Tuva Espas (Rachel Rowe 61).

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

2:00pm Kick Off. Sunday 25th October 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 2,203).