'It's been a dream of mine' - Super Skelton ecstatic to score first senior goal

As the second half drew to a close, teenager Keira Skelton got in on the action, scoring her first senior goal for the club to make it 9-0. The left-back expressed her joy at reaching this milestone.

"It was unbelievable," she said. "It has been a dream of mine to score in the black and white kit since being a kid.

"It's such an amazing feeling scoring for Newcastle United Women, I can still feel the buzz that I felt when it went in!"

Seven different goalscorers contributed to the impressive goal tally, increasing the Lady Magpies' goal difference in the league to +36.

Explaining the attacking threat of the squad, Skelton said: "Every time we go forward with the ball, we look to be direct and dangerous. We have a variety of players that know how to finish and are very clinical.

"The scoreline is a good representation of the sort of squad we are. It shows how determined we are, and it was really important that we played a 90-minute game with our standards held high for the whole game."

In recent weeks, Skelton has been handed an increased amount of game time by United Women manager, Becky Langley, and the young left-back expressed her gratitude at being given the opportunity to make an impression.

She said: "This has been one of my main aims since joining Newcastle United Women. I have been working hard to try and make sure that I am in the squad of 16 but being trusted by Becky to start is something I am so grateful for.

"I will continue to work hard for the rest of the season to try and establish myself as a starter."

Langley gave her own views on the progress of Skelton, and what she brings to the Lady Magpies' squad. "Keira Skelton is a talented young player," said the manager. "I'm delighted she has scored her first senior goal.

"Technically, she is very good for her age, and she is one of the hardest workers in every training session. She shows a great professionalism and maturity for a young player."

Before the match, Newcastle United Women players warmed up in their new orange matchday training kit, a gift from Newcastle United co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.

Langley outlined the importance of having matchday kit, and the impact of the support the owners have given Newcastle United Women since acquiring the club in October.

She said: "The new orange training kits are fantastic. They were given to the girls as a gesture from the owners and gives the girls that extra piece of kit to differentiate the feeling of a training session and a match day.

"We never take for granted wearing the club badge with pride. We know the magnitude of what we are representing."

Photographs courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC