Goal-getter Gardener now has seven for the season after netting once in each half at Druid Park as Becky Langley's side moved up to seventh place in the FAWNL Division One North table.

Bradford had won only once all season and the Magpies started brightly, with Jess Foster and Brianna Westrup both coming close before Gardener opened the scoring in the 11th minute.

Westrup found winger Imogen Longcake, whose strong run resulted in a cut-back to Gardener, and she found the net via the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. 

Gardener threatened twice more either side of a fine save from United goalkeeper Dominyka Podziute, while Longcake also saw an effort go wide of the target before the break.

In the second half, another exciting run from Longcake saw her bring a great stop from the Bradford goalkeeper, but the visiting netminder blotted her copybook in the 64th minute as she conceded a free kick by handling the ball outside the area.

The quick-thinking Gardener wasted no time in taking the set piece immediately, and put the ball into an unguarded net to seal the victory for Newcastle. 

Coach Langley said: "Three points in the bag. Delighted we have got the job done. We have had to stick together after some tough injuries in the squad and we battled right until the end to make sure we got the result."

United are away to Chorley next weekend. Kick-off at Victory Park Stadium is at 2pm (GMT) on Sunday, 2nd February. 

Newcastle United Women: Dominyka Podziute, Courtney Lock (Megan McKenzie 73), Ellen Packham, Maisie Cole, Beth Guy, Imogen Longcake, Rhiannon Gray, Beth Gardener (Anna Soulsby 67), Jess Foster, Brianna Westrup, Abbie Gilchrist (Emily Tait 69)

Subs not used: None

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC