Wing Chong

London City Lionesses and Newcastle United shared the points as two of the Championship title favourites drew 1-1 on the opening day of the season. 

Shania Hayles opened the scoring for the Magpies in the first half before Kosovare Asllani equalised for the Pride before half time. 

The attendance at Hayes Lane of 1,781 was a record in a league game for London City Lionesses.

On a pleasant afternoon in south east London, Newcastle saw the first opportunity of the match miss the target in the 6th minute.  Five minutes later, Elysia Boddy saw a dipping shot from 25-yards go over as the visitors started well in their first Championship game. 

Emily Orman made a good save in the 16th minute to put behind an effort from Hayles as the away side had the best chance of the match so far.

London City Lionesses appealed for a penalty but referee Lisa Benn waved play on.  The home sides first opportunity came in the 18th minute but Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah headed over from a free kick.

Two minutes later, Hayles gave Newcastle the lead when Jasmine McQuade’s pass found her and she finished with a strike from 10-yards into the net.

Boye-Hlorkah had London City’s next chance in the 32nd minute but shot straight at last season’s Championship Player of the Season and Golden Glove winner, Claudia Moan, in the Magpies goal.

The hosts went close to equalising a minute later when Boye-Hlorkah’s cross from the right found Lotta Lindstrom at the far post but she saw her effort hit the woodwork and bounce away.

A nice attacking move from London City Lionesses in the 39th minute saw them equalise when Lindstrom’s ball into the penalty area found Swedish international Asllani who finished past Moan.

With three minutes left of the first half, Orman kept out efforts from Charlotte Potts and Hayles following a Newcastle corner.

Emma Mukandi had the last chance of the half for the home side deep into stoppage time but her free kick was saved.

Newcastle’s Amy Andrews had the first opportunity of the second period but shot wide.

Charlene Meyong put an effort wide from the edge of the area for London City in the 54th minute.

Asllani struck a free kick at Moan, after twice being brought back after taking the kick too quickly when passing to the unmarked Mukandi.

Forward Isobel Goodwin came on for her London City debut in the 71st minute after only signing from Sheffield United the day before.  She had her first chance seven minutes later but shot at the Newcastle goalkeeper.

Goodwin then went past Moan but Potts superbly blocked as she was about to shoot into an empty net.

Boddy’s effort for the Magpies from 30 yards flew over the crossbar three minutes from the end of the match.

The referee brought the action to an end before Newcastle had time to take a corner and the sides had to settle for a point each.

The Pride are away to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday whilst the Magpies have the weekend off before playing their first home match in the second tier against Sheffield United on the 22nd September.

Line ups

London City Lionesses (3-4-1-2): Orman, Goldie, Brougham, Henson, Wilde (Neville 71’), Meyong, Roddar (Scofield 80’), Mukandi, Asllani (c) (Fitzgerald 90’+1), Lindstrom (Goodwin 71’), Boye-Hlorkah

Unused substitutes: Moloney, Marashi, Ajao, Brown

Goal – Asllani 39’

Booked – Brougham, Roddar, Asllani, Mukandi, Goldie

Newcastle United (4-1-2-3): Moan, Cataldo (Joel 69’), Cooper, Potts, Stokes (c), Boddy, McQuade (Sibley 69’), Furness (Stobbs 46’), Barker, Andrews (Lumsden 85’), Hayles (Haywood 63’)

Unused substitutes: Hawkins, Watt, Gibson, Greenwood

Goal – Hayles 20’

Booked – Stokes, Sibley, Stobbs

Referee – Lisa Benn

Attendance – 1,781