Second-half goals sees Women’s Under-19s claim victory at Newcastle

Second-half strikes from forwards Eloise Summers-Mee and Grace Bellwood ensured our Women’s Under-19s began the new year with three points as we defeated Newcastle United in the Professional Game Academy (PGA) League on Wednesday afternoon.

Cruz Fuller-Fagan, who returned to the starting XI to lead the line, grabbed her third goal in two games with a fine strike to give us the lead inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour of the contest on Tyneside, but we were pegged back by the hosts on the stroke of half-time.

A strong second half showing was needed after the break and, in the final 10 minutes of the game, we took control of the proceedings as Summers-Mee netted her third league goal of the campaign to reinstate our advantage before substitute Grace Bellwood wrapped up the victory for our youngsters, with the victory extending our unbeaten to three games in the PGA League. Rania Oukriss was also the provider on the afternoon, assisting all three of our goals.

Despite the long trip up north for our opening game of 2026, we made a positive start but our first real opportunity of the game came on 11 minutes as Summers-Mee teed up Fuller-Fagan on the edge of the box but her attempted lobbed effort was deflected wide. However, from the resulting corner, Heidi Hills played it short to Oukriss, she picked out Fuller-Fagan once again outside the area, who steadied herself before firing her shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Minutes later, and we could have had a second in the contest. Lucy Barraclough played a lovely ball round the opponents’ defence to set Fuller-Fagan through, she rounded the on-rushing Dyos but was only able to find the side-netting on this occasion. We continued to push for a second, Fuller-Fagan was unable to convert at the near post from Nife Aramide’s low cross before Poppy Neill’s delivery from the left found Summers-Mee in the centre, but she was unable to direct her effort on target.

It was pretty much one-way traffic throughout the first half - Ruby Gaitely, Neill and Rania Oukriss all trying their luck from distance in the latter stages of the period – but Rose Mylam had to remain alert on 37 minutes to deal with a free-kick from outside of the area on the right. However, in the second minute of stoppage time, we were left ruing those missed opportunities when Abby Philipson won possession back from Blue Barlett-Antwi before advancing to inside the box on the far left, drilling low past Mylam at her near post to level the scores at the break.

Oukriss sent a left-footed curling shot wide before Ruby Gaitely saw her effort from edge of the box deflected into the hands of Dyos as we looked for a response after the restart. We came inches away from retaking the lead when we struck the woodwork on just after the hour mark, substitute Bellwood playing a clever reverse pass into the path of Oukriss who advanced into the centre of the box but her strike crashed against the outside of the post.

However, as we entered the final 10 minutes of the contest, we eventually regained our advantage as, after a lovely turn in midfield to beat her player, Oukriss slipped the ball into Summers-Mee who showed complete composure to take it around the goalkeeper and slot home into the empty net. Then, seven minutes later, we wrapped up the victory in Newcastle and once again Oukriss was the provider as her cross from the right found Bellwood in the middle, she took once touch to set herself on her right and fired low into the bottom corner.

Bellwood could have had a second in stoppage time when Holly-Mae Elmes low ball from the left found the forward inside the box, but she dragged her shot wide of the target this time, although her goal earlier proved to be enough to settle the contest and earn our young side three points on their return to action.

"I’m pleased on how we stuck together through the mistakes, kept fighting and then being rewarded with a big three points in the league"

Reflecting on the game, Sabiha Jamal said: "It’s a positive start to the year. We showed aggression to win the ball high up the pitch, leading to a number of chances which we are frustrated to have not converted more of. Regardless of the number of opportunities, we conceded a disappointing goal on the stroke of half-time and left us at 1-1 at the break. But we responded well in the second half and deservedly got the win in the end. Overall, I’m pleased on how we stuck together through the mistakes, kept fighting and then being rewarded with a big three points in the league."

Match data

Goals: Newcastle - Philipson 45+2; Spurs - Fuller-Fagan 13, Summers-Mee 81, Bellwood 87.

Referee: Andy Pontin.

Venue: Leisure United, Newcastle.