Hashtag United Women have stunned full-time outfit Newcastle United to win the FAWNL Final at Luton’s Kenilworth Road in front of 3,719 fans.
LUTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 23: Grace Gillard of Hashtag United lifts the FA Women’s National League Cup trophy after their team’s victory in the FA Women’s National League Cup Final between Newcastle United and Hashtag United at Kenilworth Road on March 23, 2024 in Luton, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The Essex club, only formed in 2020, also had to do it the hard way coming back from conceding an early own goal in torrential first half rain to take the trophy 2-1.
Newcastle were quick out of the traps and went in front on 16 minutes in somewhat fortunate circumstances. A cross from Lia Cataldo looked harmless enough only for Hashtag defender Malika Apendia to put through her own goal.
Hashtag needed to respond and they certainly did that equalising just three minutes later when West Ham on loan midfielder Macey Nicholls struck a volley from outside the area that found its way into the corner of the net.
Newcastle started the second half like they did the first, threatening to take a grip of the match again and they really should’ve gone back in front on 53 minutes when Katie Barker was put through one on one but couldn’t beat Hashtag keeper Frankie Angel.
The game was really opening up in the last half an hour with Hashtag’s Sammy Rowland, later named player of the match, going through on goal only to be denied by Newcastle keeper Grace Donnelly.
The final’s decisive moment came on 72 minutes when Rowland worked her magic, getting to the byeline and cutting back for substitute Phoebe Williams to sidefoot into the corner of the net to complete the comeback for Hashtag. Williams had only been on the field a few minutes and had an eventful 20 minutes, not only scoring the winner but also having to leave the field to receive treatment for a bloody nose.
Newcastle’s late onslaught never materialised apart from a penalty shout when substitute Bailey-Gayle went tumbling in the box following a rebound and Hashtag should’ve wrapped things up when Rowland had a one on one but her shot well wide.
Hashtag, marshalled superbly at the back by stalwart captain Grace Gillard, comfortably survived five minutes of stoppage time to win the trophy and Gillard said afterwards “I’m elated. Everyone thought Newcastle would win but we proved that underdogs can win and I think we deserved it. We could’ve crumbled at one-nil down, we had a mini storm but it was important that we scored when we did. It means so much, it’s our biggest achievement so far. We’ve had an unbelievable first season in tier three and we’re going to enjoy this. We’ll celebrate now, I’m so glad it’s a Saturday!”
