Lincoln City Women were comprehensively beaten 9-1 by Newcastle United Women in the determining round of FA Women’s National League Cup.
680 people were at Sincil Bank to see an entertaining game of football between two sides at different ends of their respective tables. With Newcastle sitting second in the National League Division One North, and Lincoln ninth in the Midlands division, the two teams looked on different levels at times.
Kick-off
Newcastle had the best of the early play, looking like the team in the division above. Seven minutes in, the first real chance of the game dropped to Katie Barker. The number 9 created a yard of space in the Lincoln box, before firing a shot at goal. However, Lana Timson in the Imps net was up to the task, stopping the shot.
Lincoln had their first sight of Newcastle’s goal moments later. Chantelle Robinson was played into a dangerous position in the box, but she couldn’t find a red and white shirt with her pull back.
Before two goals in very quick succession completely changed the complexion of the game. Georgia Gibson received the ball inside the box and sidefooted the ball past a helpless Timson in goal. 1-0 Newcastle.
It then got worse for the Imps. Only a minute later, Katie Barker found herself in a lot of space as she drove toward the box. She managed to get a shot off at goal, Timson saved, before the ball dropped to Lauren Robson who only had to tap the ball into the empty net.
Then less than half an hour in, the game was put out of reach. Newcastle were unrelenting, and some great team football allowed Robson to get her second goal of the afternoon. Her lofted shot was too high for Timson and rustled into the roof of the net. 3-0 Newcastle
Three goals down at this point to a time flying high in the league could have seen Lee Mitchell’s team collapse and see the game become an onslaught. However, the Imps showed a lot of heart to battle back.
They did grow into the game, but it was too little too late to get a result. Leah Hardy manoeuvred herself well to play a lofted ball to Amy Kay, who flicked the ball to Lauryn Wilcock. The winger then flashed a ball across the box just too far away from Jess Rousseau.
Chantelle Robinson should have scored for the Imps, but captain Grace Donnelly stood up well to deny Robinson. The goal did come, as Jess Rousseau did drag Lincoln back into the game with a goal.
Before Newcastle reinstated their three-goal lead from an indirect freekick from inside the penalty area, in a moment that left fans and players confused. The resulting set piece deflected off a Lincoln player and looped into the net. And it was 4-1 Newcastle.
Newcastle started the second half with the same purpose as the first. Winning the ball in midfield, before it was worked through putting Kacie Elson one on one. Timson was up to the challenge, stopping an almost certain Newcastle fifth.
But the floodgates were well and truly opened on the hour mark. Two Gibson goals followed by Robson getting her second, substitute Emma Wallis and Katie Barker, saw the score balloon to 9-1.
Lincoln did have a few chances to add to the goal tally, but they weren’t clinical enough. With Mchamilton and Rousseau missing chances.
Full time
Imps Boss, Lee Mitchell, didn’t hold back post game. Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, he said: “It wasn’t good enough and it’s all about getting back and fighting for you spot. Because no one is safe after that performance. And it’s all up for grabs as we go to Solihull next week.”
Next up in the League, the Imps face Solihull Moors on the 2nd October.