A brace from Katie Barker, goals from Jess Foster, Megan McKenzie, Beth Gardner, Imogen Longcake and Kacie Elson, plus a Steph Ord own goal, gave Becky Langley's side an emphatic victory on an afternoon which also saw defender Ellen Packham make her return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury after eight months on the sidelines. 

Despite starting on the front foot, it took until the 18th minute for United to take the lead as Foster tapped home from Elson's cross.

But that opened the floodgates, and Barker made it 2-0 within a matter of seconds with Elson again the provider. 

In the 26th minute, Barker got her second, following up after Foster's long-range shot had come back off the bar and just after the half-hour mark, McKenzie scored arguably the goal of the game with a 25-yard drive.

Not to be outdone, last season's top scorer Gardner got in the act with a fantastic curling shot and on the stoke of half time, Longcake made it six.

Elson got the goal her performance deserved - and her first in black and white - in the 56th minute, beating the goalkeeper after a fine run, before Packham made her return to action just before the hour mark.

Then, in the 74th minute, former Newcastle player Ord turned Barker's cross into her own net to round off a great day for the Lady Magpies.

Newcastle United Women: Laura Wareham, Kacie Elson, Megan McKenzie, Sharna Wilkinson (Ellen Packham 58), Courtney Lock (c) (Jane Harland 58), Jess Foster, Emily Tait, Beth Gardener (Anna Soulsby 67), Beth Guy, Imogen Longcake (Maisie Cole 67), Katie Barker

Sub not used: Rhiannon Gray

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC