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Becky: 'Another one chalked off'
Written by Aaron Hindhaugh
Newcastle United Women head coach Becky Langley was delighted with her side's blistering start against Stoke City Women, but urged her players to remain focused for the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division title run-in.
United blew the Potters away inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour at the Emerys Stadium, with three goals in three minutes from Katie Barker, Georgia Gibson and Jasmine McQuade giving them a comfortable lead at the interval.
It was the perfect start as the Magpies looked to maintain their nine-point lead at the top of the table, and Langley was pleased with the way her side approached the opening exchanges.
"Credit to Stoke, I thought they started both halves well and pressed from the front," Langley told nufc.co.uk. "But after the first five-to-ten minutes, we solved that problem well with a goal from Katie.
"Then, it was three in three minutes, so it was a good first half performance. Ultimately, it's three points and another one chalked off."
Despite racing into the first-half lead, Langley was less impressed with how her side performed in the second period - even though her side eventually won 4-1 - and vowed to keep pushing standards in the final few weeks of the campaign.
"Consistency and focus, we said in that huddle at the end," Langley added. "Bits of the second half weren't good enough and we need to push ourselves in every session, every day and raise the standards of one another. That's what we'll do for the next six league games."
While the win was a big one on a day when title rivals Nottingham Forest Women and Burnley Women also picked up victories, Langley was able to hand valuable minutes to some familiar faces.
Elysia Boddy had not featured in a matchday squad since United's defeat in the Women's FA Cup away to Manchester United due to injury, so Langley was delighted to give her 15 minutes in the dominant victory.
Langley said: "It was fantastic to see Anna (Soulsby) and Bridget (Galloway) link up for the fourth goal after not playing for a few weeks.
"Anna did really well down that right-hand side and I've seen Anna shoot in that situation many times, so for her to square the ball for Bridget was good.
"It was fantastic to see Elysia back on the pitch, that goes without saying. She's got loads of quality for such a young player.
"She's been out for a long time so it was good to get her back in the squad, get her on these overnight away trips and ultimately, give her those 15 minutes back on the pitch."
"Bits of the second half weren't good enough and we need to push ourselves in every session, every day and raise the standards of one another."