Welcome to One Step Away, The Cutback’s WSL2 newsletter covering every matchweek’s results, standout performances, talking points and everything else you need to know from around the league.
The weekend saw Leicester City eat their first loss of the season, Bristol City get some shooting practice at Watford, and the Magpies continue to look like the team to beat this season.
Newcastle’s perfect start
Three games, three wins, 11 goals scored and just one conceded – Newcastle have begun their WSL2 season in ideal fashion.
After beating Wolves and Bristol City without conceding in their opening two games, the Magpies continued their perfect start with a 4-1 victory over Sheffield United.
Martha Thomas was the star of the show, scoring her first competitive Newcastle goals in the second half and playing the pass for Beth Lumsden’s excellent curling opener. Lumsden returned the favour for Thomas’s second, while Kaitlyn Torpey also got on the scoresheet for her first Newcastle goal.
Newcastle overhauled their squad in the summer, bringing in 11 players and letting another 11 depart. Scotland international Thomas arrived in the summer from Tottenham Hotspur as part of that rebuild, while Torpey was signed in January from the NWSL’s Portland Thorns.
It’s too early to describe the Magpies as favourites for the title, but their squad looks strong for the WSL2 level.
Injuries plague Leicester
Leicester City suffered their first loss of the season at the weekend, as Ipswich Town took all three points from the King Power Stadium.
Ipswich defender Bethan Roe’s first-half header was enough to be a decider as the Tractor Girls kept a clean sheet for the second week in a row.
Injuries continue to be an issue for the Foxes, as manager Rick Passmoor was only able to name seven substitutes. Absences included Olivia Clark, Leah Eddie, Celeste Boureille, Olivia McLoughlin and Emma Jansson.
Crucially, Leicester captain Sam Tierney sustained an ACL injury in their match against Durham in Matchweek 2. In an Instagram post, she shared: “I don’t really have the words right now and am still trying to process all my emotions. I know the journey ahead will be a long one and will test me in ways I have never experienced.”
Tierney is one of the few first-team Leicester players that stayed at the club after relegation, signing a contract extension over the summer. The loss of her experience and leadership could prove pivotal to Leicester’s season as the team makes another attempt at promotion to the top flight.
Bristol City find their feet
After losing 4-1 to Sunderland and 1-0 to Newcastle, Bristol City’s response was emphatic as they put five goals past Watford to secure their first points of the season. Rio Hardy was at the centre of everything, scoring a hat-trick, including the opener and a penalty, while Katie Robinson also got on the scoresheet.
Watford were reduced to nine players after Lucy Lyon and Eva Gray were sent off in a chaotic second half. Watford also pulled one back following a controversial corner, but Bristol responded with three more goals after their lead was cut to 2-1.
After two frustrating opening performances, the result will provide a significant lift for a Bristol City side that arrived this season with serious promotion expectations.
Manager Charlotte Healy said post-match: “There is a lot to be pleased about that performance. We have to be a bit more patient than we wanted to be but I thought we created some really good chances today. I am proud of the way that the players reacted to a lot of adversity in that game. There was a lot that wasn’t in our control and these are moments where you can lose momentum and become frustrated, so from my point of view, we reacted brilliantly.”
Most importantly, it has given the side confidence to build on after a disappointing opening fortnight.
Remembrance
WSL2 paused this weekend to remember Matt Beard, with all 12 clubs joining the league-wide minute’s applause in the 13th minute. A year after his death, his influence was still visible across the women’s game, from his back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool to his spells at clubs including Bristol City and Burnley.
To mark the third anniversary of the passing of Maddy Cusack, Newcastle held a minute’s applause prior to kick-off in their game against Sheffield United.
Other News
Wolverhampton extended their unbeaten run at home to 21 matches with a convincing 3-0 win over fellow promoted side Burnley.
Durham have lost their first three games and conceded nine goals, but probably deserved a point at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend. The 2-1 loss leaves them 11th in the table but there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.
Finally, former Manchester United player Leah Galton confirmed her move to Burnley.
What, where and when to watch
Another full weekend of fixtures is around the corner, and every match counts in a 22-game season.
Newcastle’s perfect start faces another serious test as Leicester look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. A win for either side would be huge for their title hopes, but Newcastle will enter as favourites thanks to Leicester’s growing injury list.
At the other end of the table, Sheffield United and Durham have a huge opportunity to get their seasons going as they face each other on Sunday afternoon.
Every WSL2 fixture is available to watch for free on YouTube around the world HERE.
Here are the fixtures for Matchweek 4:
Burnley vs. Bristol City - Saturday, 26 September (12:00 BST)
Watford vs. Sunderland - Sunday, 27 September (14:00 BST)
Southampton vs. Nottingham Forest - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)
Sheffield United vs. Durham - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)
Newcastle United vs. Leicester City - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)
Ipswich Town vs. Wolverhampton - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)