GIRLS SEAL TROPHY NUMBER FOUR WITH VICTORY OVER EAST END

Coming into this game, our girls knew that a single point would seal the league title as they bid for glory in their maiden season in the Northumberland Women’s Premiership. Newcastle East End have been our biggest rivals for the title all season, so we knew it would be no easy task to beat them on their own patch.

We started the game on the front foot as East End dropped off and allowed us to have the ball. The girls looked comfortable in possession as always, but clear cut chances were tough to come by in the early going as East End dug in and made things tough for us.

The closest we came in the opening minutes was in the 11th minute when Dani Nanga struck a vicious effort from the edge of the area. The keeper looked to be getting there to make the save pretty comfortably, but fumbled it onto the post and out. Esa Cullinan then went close from a similar position a minute later, but the keeper made a fine stop this time to deny her.

Our first clear cut chance came a little later on, and it came from a set piece routine from the training ground as Kelly Garcia and Dani Nanga worked an opening, allowing Nanga to pick out Kiara Eveleth at the back stick. Eveleth rose well, but nodded her effort wide of the mark.

Garcia then had a great opportunity just after the half hour mark as Nanga’s corner dropped to the floor and caused chaos in the box. Eventually, after a few seconds of pinball, the ball fell to Garcia at the edge of the six yard box. With her back to goal, Kelly took the strike on the swivel. She hit it well, but it cannoned back off the crossbar and East End survived another scare.

The remainder of the first half somewhat fizzled out as neither side were really able to take the game by the horns. Lots of loose touches and sloppy passes too, which was all very unlike what we usually see from the girls. Half-time came with the scores level.

Into the second half, the level went up and the performance instantly improved. We took the lead just five minutes into the second period as Julia Narmore delivered a cross from deep into the area. It didn’t quite reach its intended target, but it caused confusion between defender and goalkeeper as the East End centre-half diverted it beyond her keeper to hand us the lead.

The opening goal was followed by a second goal pretty quickly after. Kiara’s cross eventually found Emmely DeMarsico at the back stick. She laid it back to Taylor Donaldson 25 yards out, and she smashed a fierce left-footed strike into the far corner first time to double our lead and bring the title within touching distance.

Kylie Holmes came off the bench after the hour mark and added our third goal of the game with less than 20 minutes left on the clock. DeMarsico was involved once again as she got down the left flank and fired a delivery across the face of goal to find Holmes arriving at the back post to turn home and all but make sure of it.

The game somewhat fizzled out from there as both sides seemed to come to terms with the result. Eventually, the whistle sounded to seal a fifteenth win from 16 games this season for the girls in the Northumberland Women’s Premiership. They seal the title without having lost a single game, which is an incredible achievement.

This trophy is the fourth piece of silverware of what has been a truly outstanding season for our women’s academy. This title means we can apply for promotion to the next tier which, if granted, will allow us to step up to a much more competitive standard for the 24/25 season. Still one more piece of silverware to fight for as we take on Berwick on May 19 in the Northumberland League Cup final.

POTM: Emmely DeMarsico