Deanna Cooper scores an injury time equaliser to earn Newcastle United Women a point at St. James’ Park against Southampton Women. Daniel Wales reports.
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00:00It was a bright but bitterly cold November day in Tyneside with Newcastle
00:05United women looking to return to winning ways in front of an 11,000
00:08strong crowd at St. James's Park. In such a tightly packed league every win could
00:13prove crucial in a potential promotion bid. Ultimately it was only a point for
00:19both sides but one that will feel like a win for Newcastle and a loss for South
00:23Hampton thanks to Deanna Cooper's 98th minute equaliser at the Gallagher end to
00:28see the game finish 1-1. Pinball ensued in the box from a corner before the ball
00:32fell to Cooper allowing her to prod home. Southampton had led early on thanks to
00:37Frey Gregory stealing the ball from Newcastle goalkeeper Claudia Moan before
00:41slotting home into an empty net. The visitors managed the game well from then
00:45on in reducing Newcastle to few clear-cut chances. Katie Barker struck
00:50the bar in the first half with Beth Lumsden going narrowly wide in the second
00:54but that was the best that they could manage. Certainly a point gained for
00:59Newcastle though and a moment that could galvanise the team going forward with
01:04more important fixtures to come. Becky Langley however was adamant that her side
01:09should not get too carried away with the emotion of a last-minute equaliser
01:13despite the pandemonium that it caused inside of St. James's Park.
01:17Yeah I think it's important as we've said previously not to get too high with
01:21the highs and low with the lows because I remember reflecting after the Charlton
01:25game and if you're in the Charlton camp you're like wow we've got a point from
01:29it but for us it felt like two points dropped so I think it's almost the other
01:33way around today you know we're delighted with the point it's still just
01:36a point on the board but I think for Southampton it'll feel like three or two
01:40lost. For large parts though it was a frustrating afternoon for Newcastle
01:45although one shining light was Katie Barker who was one of three changes to
01:49the side. Langley was pleased with her performance. Yeah I think Katie's a
01:53great girl and a great player I think she had the best moment of the first half for
01:56sure when she kind of drove the players and had a strike from outside the 18
02:00that hit the crossbar so yeah I thought Katie's attitude throughout the game was
02:04brilliant her tenacity and energy to go and press was brilliant throughout the
02:08full 98 minutes and yeah credit to Katie I'm sure she's one of the most you know
02:12players who most enjoys playing at St. James's because she's a die-hard
02:16Newcastle fan so yeah I think it meant a lot to her and yeah we'll be happy with
02:20the point. Southampton were particularly dangerous from set-pieces often placing
02:24them on top of Claudia Moan making life difficult for the Newcastle keeper
02:28something which Becky Langley vowed to work on for the future. Yeah definitely I
02:32think obviously Pottsy's a really important player for us in terms of that
02:35zonal area from set-pieces so when obviously Pottsy came off injured it was
02:39obviously an area of vulnerability for us and yeah I think you know set-piece
02:44is such an important part of the Women's Championship so yeah something we'll
02:47review again and yeah I thought Claudia did well after you know the early
02:51mistake I thought her attitude and actually maturity to see through the
02:55performance really professionally I think she made some excellent saves in
02:58that first half as well.