The visitors went into the game in fifth place but only two points ahead of the Magpies, who knew they would overtake them with a victory under the lights at Longbenton Sports Ground. 

But Molly Holder's first-half goal meant Cestria made the short journey back down the A1 with the three points, with manager Becky Langley left to rue a "frustrating" evening. 

Both sides had chances in a frenetic opening period; Emily Tait picked out Rhiannon Gray with a great pass in the fourth minute, but goalkeeper Brooke Mackain made an excellent stop before, at the other end, United debutant Sophie Miller did well to keep out Megan Elliott's free kick.

Leading scorer Beth Gardener looked certain to net her eighth goal of the season in the 12th minute - Maisie Cole and Anna Soulsby combined on the right with Soulsby cutting the ball back perfectly for Gardener, but Mackain somehow denied her from point blank range - before Durham hit the bar through Erin Nelson two minutes later. 

But in the 16th minute, Holder pounced after Miller had saved from Jordan Atkinson, and United were grateful to their goalkeeper for two more good saves before the break.

After such an open first half, the second half was always unlikely to be so end-to-end and it took until the final few minutes - following the introduction of new signing Kacie Elson and winger Imogen Longcake - for the game to heat up once more on a cold night on North Tyneside. 

Holder hit the bar for the visitors and Atkinson brought another good stop from Miller, before Newcastle had loud shouts for a penalty in the 84th minute as Brianna Westrup appeared to be fouled in the area, but they were waved away by the officials.

Westrup was then thwarted by another stunning save from Mackain before the goalkeeper went off injured soon afterwards, to be replaced between the posts by goalscorer Holder for the final few minutes.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Longcake prodded the ball past the goalkeeper after a darting run - but the flag went up as the ball rolled towards the net.

Langley said: "Frustrating as it was one of the best performances I've seen from us. We moved the ball well. We were competitive and aggressive throughout. We had two very good early chances, a penalty shout and their keeper made a great save with five minutes to go.

"I thought Sophie, who made her debut in goal, was excellent for us."

Newcastle United Women: Sophie Miller, Brianna Westrup, Maisie Cole, Emily Tait, Megan McKenzie, Beth Guy (Jane Harland 77), Rhiannon Gray, Anna Soulsby (Imogen Longcake 66), Abbie Gilchrist, Beth Gardener, Jess Foster (Kacie Elson 66)

Subs not used: Dominyka Podziute, Courtney Lock

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC