DURHAM, United Kingdom (Interstat) — Beth Lumsden and Martha Thomas each scored twice as Newcastle Utd W defeated Durham W 5-1 at Maiden Castle Sports Park on Sunday, overcoming an early deficit and pulling away after halftime. Lucy Watson gave Durham W the lead, but Newcastle Utd W answered before the break and added three goals in the second half. The result moved Newcastle Utd W to 1-3 in the competition and 3-3-1 across all competitions, while Durham W fell to 0-4 in the competition and 0-7 overall.

Watson struck in the 13th minute to put Durham W ahead. Newcastle Utd W responded in the 26th minute through Thomas, then took the lead in the 37th minute when Lumsden scored. Newcastle Utd W carried a 2-1 advantage into halftime and continued to press after the restart. Thomas scored her second goal in the 50th minute, and Lumsden completed her brace in the 57th minute. The goals capped a stretch in which Newcastle Utd W turned a one-goal deficit into a two-goal cushion before the hour mark. Newcastle Utd W scored three times after halftime and held Durham W without a second goal.

Lumsden finished with two goals and one assist in 65 minutes. Thomas had two goals in 59 minutes. Watson scored Durham W’s lone goal. Jordan Nobbs provided two assists in 64 minutes, and Mollie Lambert added an assist in 83 minutes. Lumsden was Newcastle Utd W’s top star. Newcastle Utd W’s attacking play produced five goals and kept Durham W from building on its early breakthrough. Newcastle Utd W’s five goals came from its attacking players, with Lumsden and Thomas leading the way.

Newcastle Utd W made its first change in the 59th minute when Thomas came off. Durham W substituted Collinson in the 60th minute. Newcastle Utd W brought off McGovern and Nobbs in the 64th minute, then removed Lumsden in the 65th. Durham W’s Morran entered in the 76th minute, and Newcastle Utd W’s Lambert came off in the 83rd minute. Newcastle Utd W’s Gregory received a yellow card in the 76th minute. Newcastle Utd W maintained its advantage through the final stages.

Newcastle Utd W had entered the match after a 2-2 draw at Nottingham W and a 2-0 loss at Everton W. Earlier in the season, Newcastle Utd W had lost 1-0 to Sunderland W, beaten Durham W 3-0, lost 3-1 at Aston Villa W and beaten Leicester W 4-0. Durham W had lost 4-2 at Watford W, lost 5-0 to Birmingham W, lost 3-2 at Burnley W, lost 3-0 to Newcastle Utd W, lost 5-1 to Manchester Utd W and lost 4-1 at Sheffield Utd W. Newcastle Utd W improved its overall form with the win, while Durham W remained without a victory in the competition.

The game was played at Maiden Castle Sports Park in Durham. Newcastle Utd W’s Lumsden was the top star for Newcastle Utd W. Watson’s goal was Durham W’s only breakthrough. Newcastle Utd W’s season record in the competition is now 1 win and 3 losses, and its overall record is 3 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. Durham W’s competition record is 0 wins and 4 losses, and its overall record is 0 wins and 7 losses. Newcastle Utd W’s victory came on the road against a Durham W side still seeking its first win of the campaign.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Durham W 2, Newcastle Utd W 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Newcastle Utd W with a 69.1 percent probability to win. Newcastle Utd W had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2. The total score of 6 went under the over/under line of 3.5.