The ladies played host to Cramlington Women United at the Sheepmount. Natalie McCann made her debut in central defence as they looked to improve on the heavy defeat suffered a fortnight ago.
Both teams started brightly and it was more like a cup tie as the play flowed from end to end. Newlaithes took the lead on 15 minutes when Chelsea Norris intercepted a loose ball from from Cramlington keeper Gemma Laurie to smash the ball into the net from just outside the area. On 25 minutes Newlaithes keeper Vicki Rudd dived well to her left to save from a free-kick. Newlaithes struggled to clear the resulting corner and the visitors' forward flicked the ball in from close range to equalise. Four minutes later and Newlaithes restored the lead when Chelsea Norris got onto the end of a Stacey Harkness corner to head the ball down and into the net. The game settled into a pattern as Newlaithes focussed on maintaining shape and keeping things tight in the middle and although Vicki Rudd was the busier of the two keepers, there were chances at both ends as Newlaithes looked to catch the visitors on the break. However on 38 minutes, Cramlington equalised when again, Newlaithes were unable to clear a corner from the right and the visitors curled the ball in at the far post. But parity was short-lived as Newlaithes restored the lead four minutes later in a repeat of their 2nd goal when Chelsea Norris again headed home from a Stacey Harkness corner. Half time 3-2.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein with both teams breaking quickly and the visitors didn't take log to equalise for a third time when Chelsea Norris attacked down the left but her shot was well saved. Cramlington countered and the Newlaithes defence was caught flat-footed by a killer ball through the middle and their forward raced clear to score with a neat finish. Nicola Morning replaced Vicki Rudd in the Newlaithes goal on the hour and was called into action quickly as Cramlington fizzed a shot across goal. At the other end the Newlaithes wingers were having a lot of success down the flanks with several shots coming close. Then Nicola Morning made an outstanding save by diving full length to her right to catch a low, stinging shot from just inside the area. Not to be outdone, Gemma Laurie then saved acrobatically to tip the ball over the bar from a Norris screamer. Moments later Abi Telford came oh so close when she cut in from the right but her shot just went the wrong side of the post. Newlaithes almost snatched it in the dying seconds when Lydia McGuiness did well to smash the ball goal-bound from 10 yards but unfortunately the ball flew straight at the keeper and the score remained 3-3.
This was a thoroughly entertaining game with a bagful of chances at each end and a draw was definitely the fair result. All three keepers were outstanding and the scoreline could easily have been doubled.
Player of the match was Chelsea Norris with an energetic performance down the left and her hat-trick was fully deserved.
Next game is away to Walbottle, 2pm ko at Walbottle Campus.
