Newcastle were among the pre-season favourites for promotion in the 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League 2. Few may have predicted just how well the Magpies would start the new campaign, with maximum points on the board after four games.
Under Tanya Oxtoby’s guidance, the north east outfit have shown early signs of becoming serious title contenders this season. In their opening four matches, Newcastle look incredibly well-balanced, conceding just one goal and scoring 11.
In particular, the new-look front line of Mollie Lambert, Martha Thomas, Beth Lumsden and Kathleen McGovern have hit top form, contributing seven goals and five assists between them.
This attacking quartet have certainly caught the eye and have shown why they have the qualities to fire Newcastle to the top of the BWSL2.
Oxtoby's New Look Newcastle Attack
At the end of the 2025/26 campaign, Newcastle were one of the lowest-scoring sides in the top half of the BWSL2. Oxtoby’s team found the net 32 times in 22 matches.
Quality and confidence in the final third were a clear issue for the Magpies last term. They ranked seventh for shot conversion rate, ninth for Big Chances Created and 11th for Big Chances Missed.
Oxtoby moved quickly to address this key problem area in pre-season, signing three new attackers who have been key early in the new season.
Experienced BWSL2 midfielder Mollie Lambert, former Man United striker Martha Thomas and free-scoring Kathleen McGovern all signed in the summer of 2026. The trio have wasted no time in settling into their new environment alongside established Magpies forward Beth Lumsden.
Magpies Now Lead BWSL2 for Attacking Output
Oxtoby has already started to get the best out of her attacking front four and praised the impact of Thomas and McGovern in particular.
The Newcastle manager shared some insight into the duo’s flourishing connection and highlighted how Thomas’ winner in the 1-0 victory over Bristol City showcased the pair’s understanding. After the match, Oxtoby said, "The goal we scored on Saturday, Martha pretty much created that off her own back with her movement, but Kathleen being in the right place at the right time, they're complementing each other really well and learning off each other."
Oxtoby holds Newcastle’s attacking players to account as she wants the team to improve its output in 2026/27. Recently, Lumsden shared that the team is eager to start “winning games more comfortably than we have done in the past.”
The psychological connection is clearly playing a part and complements the tactical fluidity that Oxtoby has used this season.
So far, the Australian coach has shifted her attacking players into different positions. In the 2-0 opening match win over Wolves, McGovern started in the left wing position, with Lambert occupying the number 10 role and Thomas as the lone striker.
However, for the last two BWSL2 games, a 4-1 triumph over Sheffield United and a 4-0 win against Leicester, the roles changed. Thomas took the number 10 role, McGovern started as the striker and Lambert was the left winger.
Throughout the campaign, Oxtoby is likely to shift her attacking pack into different positions. Not only does this give her side a pre-match advantage, leaving Newcastle’s opponents second-guessing about the starting lineup, but it offers in-game flexibility to change based on performance and opposition tactics.
The blend of tactical fluidity and greater understanding between attackers is paying off. Newcastle currently lead the BWSL2 for Big Chances Created, Big Chances Missed and Touches in the Opposition Box; a noticeable improvement from 2025/26.
A Balancing Act
While Lambert, Thomas, Lumsden and McGovern have stolen the headlines so far, Newcastle’s defensive rigour has provided a well-rounded core for a potential promotion push.
For Oxtoby, clean sheets are just as important as outscoring opponents. She recently emphasised the importance of team balance and said, "I am buzzing for the whole group because we know that we will create opportunities for ourselves, but we have to make sure we don't give the opposition anything.”
Sharing the attacking load will certainly help as Newcastle aim to continue their promotion push, with several potential goalscorers and creators available to call upon.
Beyond the attacking four that have started the campaign so well, Oxtoby also has strong depth from the bench.
Oona Sevenius, who scored four goals and made three assists in 11 BWSL2 appearances last season, and experienced WSL recruit Leanne Kiernan are yet to start for Newcastle in 2026/27. However, the duo showed they are ready to perform when called upon after combining for the Magpies' only goal in a 3-1 League Cup loss to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Can Newcastle Maintain BWSL2 Promotion Push?
Momentum is difficult to maintain in the BWSL2, especially with the international break looming after matchday five. In comparison, last season’s league winners Birmingham won three of their opening five BWSL2 matches before losing three of their following four after the October internationals.
With 13 players called up for the upcoming internationals, including Scotland regulars McGovern and Thomas, such demands could have an impact as the BWSL2 progresses in the coming months.
Oxtoby will be eager for her side to maintain their high standards, especially with a favourable fixture against the league’s bottom side, Durham, on matchday five. Durham have had a tough start to the BWSL and conceded a league-high of 13 goals in four matches.
Beyond that game, the Magpies have two tough League Cup clashes against Sunderland and Everton before facing mid-table Nottingham Forest in late October. Navigating this period will show whether Newcastle’s front line has the stamina to maintain a serious title challenge in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2.
