Until a few weeks ago, Newcastle United couldn’t have asked for a better start to their 2026-27 WSL2 campaign.
The recent 2-2 draw away to fellow unbeaten side Nottingham Forest brought their first dropped points of the season, but the Magpies still sit top of the table as the second tier’s team to beat.
Watford-born winger Beth Lumsden has been at the heart of everything good about Newcastle this season and the 27-year-old leads the WSL2 charts in assists, chances created and big chances created. That excellent form has been crucial to the success of summer signing Martha Thomas, who is the league’s top goalscorer so far.
Now in her third season in the north-east, Lumsden believes the foundations of Newcastle’s fast start were built on the training ground by manager Tanya Oxtoby and her backroom staff, who have driven higher standards since coming into the club last November.
“We had quite a good pre-season. We had a lot of time to gel together,” Lumsden tells The Cutback. “The quality of training every day obviously helps, because everyone is pushing each other. I think that’s been a massive driving factor.”
Oxtoby has been pushing her side away from the training ground, too. Newcastle deliberately chose strong opposition in their warm-up games to prepare them for the season ahead, including WSL sides Manchester United and Everton, as well as Liga F team Valencia CF.
“It challenged us in ways that meant we spent a lot of time out of possession, but I think that shows now,” Lumsden says. “We’re well structured and we’ve taken those lessons into the beginning of the season.”
Newcastle have been free-scoring in the league this season, but their defence is also the league’s best with only three goals conceded in six games. That solidity is remarkable considering the sweeping changes made to the squad over summer.
The Magpies signed 11 new players from clubs across the WSL, the Frauen-Bundesliga and Liga F to gear up for promotion. However, many of those signings are yet to lock down a regular starting spot, as the club’s veterans have fought hard to keep their places.
Still, Lumsden isn’t resting on her laurels.
“Nobody is ever guaranteed their shirt,” Lumsden says. “Every training session, you’ve got to be on it, and if you’re not, you’ll get pulled up on it.”
“[The staff] have brought a massive amount of quality in terms of detail and high expectations in training. I just feel there’s a lot of trust within the group, and it’s a special place to be at the moment.”
After facing top sparring partners in the summer, Lumsden gets plenty of hard rounds in training against Australian left-back Kaitlyn Torpey, whose form has been outstanding this season. Torpey leads Newcastle in interceptions, tackles and defensive actions per 90, and the league’s foremost creative force partially puts her good form down to the quality of opposition in training.
“On matchday, I feel accustomed to playing against the other full-backs in the league because I think — and I might be biased — we’ve got the best in the league here,” Lumsden says. “It’s nice to be able to challenge yourself every day.”
At the other end of the pitch, Lumsden, Thomas and new signings Mollie Lambert and Kathleen McGovern have quickly developed into the league’s most dangerous front four, as Newcastle have scored a league-leading 16 goals in six games.
“As a winger, I trust that the players around me are going to be in the right place at the right time. Martha [Thomas] has done that really well this season. She’s been in the right place at the right time.”
Ultimately, Newcastle’s goal is to reach the WSL, which they will automatically achieve if they maintain their place as one of the top two WSL2 sides. Their early-season dominance has provided an encouraging indication of their potential, but Lumsden recognises that the top flight presents another test.
“I think the difference is that you get punished much quicker if you make mistakes,” she reflects. “You can expect a shot on goal [against you], for example, if something goes wrong. The way they move the ball might be a little bit quicker, too. There’s still a little way to go, but if you watch the games back, you can see that we’re competing. It’s just fine margins.”
She continued: “The aim is obviously to be in the WSL, so we’re doing everything we can to close the gaps, both on and off the pitch. The standards are high every day.
“When the time comes, I think we’ll be ready.”