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Bailes buzzing with big win
Written by Joseph Nelson
Freya Bailes was thrilled that Newcastle United Women came away with three points in Tuesday night's top-of-the-table clash against Durham Cestria.
The Magpies welcomed the FA Women's National League Division One North leaders to Kingston Park Stadium in sub-zero temperatures, but there was plenty of fire on the pitch as Becky Langley's side earned a valuable 1-0 victory over their local rivals courtesy of a first-half own goal.
"I think the win was important in the sense it was a head-to-head against a strong Durham team who had been unbeaten for a while and they're obviously the ones at the top currently," Bailes told nufc.co.uk.
"But we also know that every game is worth the same number of points, and that win would've meant nothing if we hadn't won the games leading up to this.
"Similarly, it won't mean anything unless we continue to win every game that's yet to come."
The centre-back's message echoes that of Newcastle boss Langley, who has reiterated all season long that the Magpies are looking no further forward than the fixture that's immediately in front of them.
"I think there's no denying that could be a season-defining game due to the head-to-head nature and what the narrative of the game was made to be," Freya continued.
"But for us, nothing changes. We still have that one-game-at-a-time mentality, and we won't stop until the last minute of the last game. Only then can we maybe look back and see this as a turning point.
"For now it's definitely about remaining consistent and grinding out the wins."
The match was settled by a first-half own goal from unfortunate Cestria defender Jen Knowles after Katie Barker's shot was deflected beyond Durham goalkeeper Anna King.
Despite the fortuitous nature of the goal, Bailes says that Langley's side were "confident" they would find the back of the net in the match and keep another clean sheet.
"I think to an extent the goal was lucky, but we have a handful of players in the team all hitting double figures for goals now and I think you create your own luck," she said. "We were confident we would score no matter how it came about.
"We know if we don't concede we can't lose and that gives us a great platform to win games from. I think the consistency is really there and the relationships between us all are starting to show.
"You have the youth of Daisy (Burt) and Keira (Skelton) who are showing every game how talented they are, and then obviously there are not too many qualities Pottsy (Charlotte Potts) doesn't bring to the table.
"It's been great to get that stability in front of Grace (Donnelly), who's also been excellent when called upon."
Newcastle Women are back in action at Kingston Park against Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies on Sunday, 19th March at 2pm (GMT). Tickets for the match are priced at £3 for adults and £1 for children and concessions. Book yours in advance here.
Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC
"I think there's no denying that could be a season-defining game due to the head-to-head nature and what the narrative of the game was made to be. But for us, nothing changes."