Becky Langley is suddenly well placed to beat Eddie Howe in the race to choreograph the collection of Newcastle United’s first trophy since their Saudi Arabian-led takeover. Howe’s men are desperate to end a club silverware drought stretching back to 1969 when the Fairs Cup was lifted but Langley’s fully professional women’s team may yet lead the way after reaching next month’s National League Cup final.
After beating Portsmouth 2-1 in front of an exuberant 22,307 strong crowd at St James’s Park courtesy of the excellent Georgia Gibson’s 90th-minute winner, Newcastle will now meet semi-professional, Essex-based Hashtag United at Luton’s Kenilworth Road.
