The Lady Magpies took an early lead through Beth Gardener, but Bianca Owens' 85th minute strike earned the home side a share of the spoils.

And they will feel it was no less than they deserved after forcing Dominyka Podziute into a string of fine saves before finally finding a way past the Newcastle goalkeeper.

Leading scorer Gardener took advantage of a defensive mix-up to loft the ball home from 25 yards in the seventh minute, grabbing her fifth goal of the campaign to put United in front. 

With regular goalkeeper Grace Donnelly watching from the stand as she recovers from the injury she sustained in November's Bluefin Sport County Cup win over Blakelaw SFC, Podziute looked set to keep Norton at bay with an excellent performance.

But with five minutes remaining, Owens finished from close range and Norton nearly snatched an unlikely winner in the dying seconds, but were denied by a fine last-ditch challenge from stand-in skipper Courtney Lock.

Becky Langley's side face league leaders Barnsley at Druid Park on Sunday, 12th January (kick-off 2pm GMT).

Newcastle United Women: Dominyka Podziute, Maisie Cole, Ellen Packham, Courtney Lock, Jane Harland, Beth Guy (Steph Ord 71), Abbie Gilchrist, Brianna Westrup, Megan McKenzie, Beth Gardener (Rhiannon Gray 84), Jess Foster (Anna Soulsby 71)

Subs not used: Emily Tait, Imogen Longcake

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC