Newcastle United Women have made a perfect start to the new WSL2 season after recording a third consecutive victory against Sheffield United.
Tanya Oxtoby’s side moved onto nine points from nine with an emphatic 4-1 win at Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday.
Beth Lumsden and Kaitlyn Torpey put Newcastle two goals ahead inside 18 minutes before Sheffield United reduced the deficit through Lucy Quinn.
Any hope of a second-half comeback quickly disappeared.
Martha Thomas scored just seconds after the restart before adding her second of the afternoon to complete an impressive Newcastle victory.
Newcastle’s official match report confirmed the result maintained United’s winning start to the campaign.
Newcastle United Women sit top of WSL2
Three matches have produced three victories for Oxtoby’s side.
Newcastle began the campaign by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 before earning a 1-0 away victory over Bristol City.
The four goals against Sheffield United mean Newcastle have now scored seven times while conceding only once.
That record leaves them top of the WSL2 table with nine points and a goal difference of +6 after the opening three rounds.
The position is an encouraging early sign for a club looking to take another significant step in the development of its women’s programme.
Newcastle have invested heavily across the club in recent years, with Read Newcastle previously covering the £30 million facilities programme that also included plans to improve support for the women’s setup.
Results on the pitch are now providing an encouraging return.
Martha Thomas makes Newcastle impact
Thomas’ brace was particularly significant.
Her first goal arrived almost immediately after half-time as Newcastle restored their two-goal advantage before Sheffield United had a chance to build momentum.
She then struck again in the 53rd minute to put the contest beyond the visitors.
Torpey’s first Newcastle goal was another positive development.
The Australian had already provided a threat in the final third during the opening weeks of the season and converted that influence into a goal with Newcastle’s second of the afternoon.
Lumsden, meanwhile, marked her 50th league appearance for the club by opening the scoring.
There were therefore contributions from across Newcastle’s attack rather than an over-reliance on one player.
Leicester provide Newcastle’s next WSL2 test
Newcastle now have an opportunity to extend their unbeaten start when Leicester City visit Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday, 27 September.
The club’s official fixture list has the WSL2 meeting scheduled before Newcastle travel to Aston Villa in the League Cup three days later.
That will begin a more demanding period.
Newcastle face Durham away in their following league fixture before a League Cup Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland later in October.
Three victories in September do not decide an entire season.
They have, however, given Oxtoby’s side exactly the platform they would have wanted.
Nine points from nine, seven goals scored and only one conceded make Newcastle the early WSL2 leaders.
The challenge now is turning a perfect opening three matches into sustained momentum.
