Huge “celebrations” as Newcastle United Women claim victory over rivals Sunderland: Newcastle United Women 1-0 Sunderland Women

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Newcastle United Women claimed a historic league double over North East rivals Sunderland, by winning one-nil at St. James’ Park, thanks to a late goal, scored on a counter attack by forward Shania Hayles. Daniel Wales reports.

Transcript

00:00A week on from the men winning the Carabao Cup, it was now Newcastle United Women's turn

00:07to celebrate success.

00:10Newcastle United Women claimed an historically double over North East rival Sunderland by

00:15winning 1-0 here at St James' Park thanks to a late goal scored on a counter-attack by

00:20forward Shania Hales.

00:21The 38,000-strong crowd inside St James' Park, apart from the travelling Sunderland contingent,

00:26were elated as the ball nestled in the back of the net, with the victory capping off what

00:31has been a week for the ages on Tyneside.

00:34Let's go back to the start of the day as the crowds arrived ahead of the derby.

00:41It was set to be a memorable day on Tyneside.

00:45Newcastle United Women were welcoming Sunderland Women to St James' Park for the first time

00:50in the Women's Championship, with Becky Langley's side having beaten their red and white rivals

00:56earlier on in the season at the Stadium of Light by two goals to one.

01:01The day was also the first occasion that the Carabao Cup was to be shown off in the North

01:05East as Bob Munker, the last Newcastle United captain before Bruno Gumaraes to lift major

01:11silverware for the club, was to present the trophy to the crowd alongside Chief Executive

01:16Darren Eales at half-time.

01:19All that was to come though, and for now, the atmosphere was building nicely around

01:24the stadium, with supporters eager to get inside ahead of kick-off.

01:32Both sides were looking to bounce back from losses suffered in their previous games, with

01:37Newcastle losing away at Durham and Sunderland coming up short against Portsmouth.

01:43The first half saw Newcastle dominate for large parts, but struggle to create any clear-cut

01:48chances.

01:49Sunderland had moments, but they were rare and easily stopped by the hosts.

01:54It took until the 78th minute for substitute Shania Hales to open the scoring, as she cut

02:00inside from the right before firing past Demi Lambourne in the Sunderland goal.

02:06Newcastle boss Becky Langley was then sent off from the touchline, with captain Amber

02:11Keegan-Stobbs and match-winner Hales having to reflect on the huge win in her place.

02:16Just be patient with it.

02:17We wanted to dominate the game, and we did, and it's just keeping our emotions in check,

02:22keeping together, knowing and trusting that the goal will come, and I think today we did

02:27that.

02:28I think it was calm everywhere, which I think sometimes in football that can tip you over

02:33the edge one way or another, but today just, yeah, just honestly felt it.

02:37I think the whole group did, and hopefully all the fans did, but yeah, just be patient

02:44with it, and we know we've got clinical players for Shania to come on and put away a banger

02:49like that, not surprised, but buzzing for her, and I think everyone hit top speed for

02:54the celebrations.

02:55What a moment.

02:56Whether I start or come on, I think I can do a job, obviously.

03:02I'm quite forward and direct, so sometimes it works, but the game might be a bit flat

03:07for the first 60 that you come on and try and do something, so I think today I did my

03:11job and, yeah, we got a win for the girls.

03:15Sunderland's lack of attacking threat ultimately let them down on the day, as was alluded to

03:21by head coach Mel Ray and captain Brianna Westrup.

03:25You know, we've done a lot of work in the week in terms of our shape, and in the areas

03:29of the pitch we wanted to exploit them, probably decision-making, you know, the retention of

03:37Do we carry forward, or do we protect and come back to recycle play?

03:40I think the opposite pocket was open quite a lot, but we couldn't quite find it.

03:44I think that's a little bit down to the way we ask our team to play.

03:49Our front three do a really big shift for us out of possession.

03:53Not all teams have their front three do that, but it's something that, upon reflection of

03:57the first half of the season, we were conceding quite a lot of goals, and we needed to do

04:01things to stop that.

04:03You can't be conceding three goals every game and expect to win every week.

04:08So yeah, I mean, huge round of applause to them.

04:12The three points just about keeps alive Newcastle United's chances of promotion from the Women's

04:16Championship, although it still remains unlikely.

04:20For Sunderland, they are set for another season in the division following a day where, despite

04:24solid defensive work, they did not threaten enough going forward, and ultimately succumbed

04:30to a goal that they will be disappointed to concede.

04:34Their supporters will travel home dejected, but for those in black and white, the celebrations

04:39just keep going.

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