Debut delight for Nelson with Stockport win

Having gone behind early on, Becky Langley's side once again showed their grit and determination, scoring four goals in the second half - Katie Barker grabbing a brace before goals from Bethany Guy and Erin Nelson sealed the win.

And debutant Nelson - who joined United from Durham Cestria earlier this month - expressed how delighted she was to have scored her first goal for the Lady Magpies. 

Nelson said: "It is always nice to score in any game, but scoring on my debut made it even more special and topped off a great team performance.

"It was quite a scrappy game, so it was good to get a result from it, having gone behind in the first half."

The win over Stockport concluded a strong first half of the season for the United Women, as they finish 2021 second in the league and into the fourth round of the Vitality Women's FA Cup.

Looking ahead to the new year, Nelson feels that the Lady Magpies are well-placed going in to the second part of the campaign.

"The win means we can push on, keep up our momentum, and continue winning games," she said. "We want to win the league title and it was very important for us to beat Stockport to be in a position where we can kick on."

Before equalising and ultimately going on to win the match, Langley's side saw Olivia Watt's effort ruled out for offside, as well as going close on several occasions, and Nelson identified togetherness as a key factor in Lady Magpies' comeback.

"We worked as a group, we worked together, and it paid off in the end," Nelson said.

The 20-year-old had been waiting two weeks for her debut, having been cup-tied for the Vitality Women's FA Cup second and third round fixtures against Salford City Lionesses and Chorley Women.

But Nelson shared her experience of training with the team and being part of the matchday squad for the first time.

"It is a different environment to what I have been used to," she said. "Everyone wants to get the best out of each other, and the atmosphere is brilliant to be around.

"Training sessions are always high intensity and the analysis that we do after matches is just as detailed. It really helps us to improve.

"Our aims are focused more on winning and keeping clean sheets, rather than the trophies. If we focus on those things, and do them right, the trophies and achievements will come."

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC