Match Report
by
James Brown
Newcastle Town Women are through to the Third Round Qualifying of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup after a convincing 5-0 victory against Droitwich Spa Ladies of a division higher at The Red Industries Stadium on Sunday afternoon thanks to goals from Mollie Prime (x2), Hannah Jamieson, Katie Ball and Marni Williams.
A composed and confident performance was rewarded in front of another excellent crowd as Castle created plenty of chances and scored five well taken goals while also keeping a fourth straight clean sheet.
Castle were a constant threat going forward as they looked to back-up the previous round win against Port Vale, also of the league above. The coaching staff made four changes from that game with Devon Knapper, Katie Marsden, Rachel Yates and Hannah Jamieson all starting.
The game couldn’t have started much better as with only three minutes on the clock, Mollie Prime made a break down the left wing and delivered a dangerous cross which found it’s way over the Droitwich keeper and into the far corner to put Castle ahead.
Despite being on the front foot, Droitwich also posed a threat with some good pace on each wing which needed the strong defending of Paige Williams, Katie Greenwood and Devon Knapper to keep the visitors from finding routes to Castle keeper Lucy Read’s goal.
The Castle strikers Marni Williams and Hannah Jamieson were finding themselves in excellent attacking areas with some good passing football however the Droitwich shot stopper Sophie Ross was on hand to make a number of great saves throughout the first half.
Eventually Castle found the back of the net once more and it was Jamieson with her first in a blue shirt after getting through one-on-one before firing into the bottom right corner to double the lead at the break.
HALF-TIME | Newcastle Town Women 2-0 Droitwich Spa Ladies
Early in the second half, game changers Katie Ball and Sofia Tzima replaced Rachel Yates and Katie Marsden as Castle switched to a back four and added an extra attacker. Moments later a super passage of play resulted in Ellie Wright delivering a low cross which was turned home by Ball with her first touch.
The fast start continued as a quick fire double made it 4-0 on 49 minutes when Marni Williams converted from close range following a Droitwich clearance.
With half an hour remaining, current top scorer Elissa Dockerty replaced Jamieson and was denied on numerous occasions by Droitwich keeper Ross as Castle looked for a fifth.
Inside the final ten minutes, player of the match Prime found space outside the box and unleashed a driven strike low across goal into the bottom corner to round off the afternoon and send Castle into the next round on Sunday 23rd October.
FULL-TIME | Newcastle Town Women 5-0 Droitwich Spa Ladies
The draw takes place on Monday 3rd October at 1pm with Doveridge Ladies FC the visitors next weekend as Castle return to league action.
Newcastle Town Women: Lucy Read (GK), Paige Williams, Katie Greenwood, Devon Knapper, Katie Marsden (Sofia Tzima 47’), Rachel Yates (Katie Ball 47’), Eve Eaton, Mollie Prime, Ellie Wright, Marni Williams (c), Hannah Jamieson (Elissa Dockerty 59’);
Game Changers: Rachel Oldfield, Elissa Dockerty, Katie Ball, Izzy Cooper, Tegan Ansell, Sofia Tzima;
Goals: Mollie Prime (3’, 84’), Hannah Jamieson (23’), Katie Ball (47’), Marni Williams (49’);
Attendance: 204