Newcastle United Women 4 Sunderland West End Ladies 1
Newcastle United Women marched into the first round proper of the Vitality Women's FA Cup by beating neighbours Sunderland West End Ladies 4-1 on Sunday.
Becky Langley's side had beaten Blackburn Community Sports Club Ladies 11-0 in the previous round but found this third qualifying round tie far tougher.
However, they were still fully deserving of their place in the hat for the next round, with Anna Soulsby, Rhiannon Gray (2) and Georgia Gibson on target.
Soulsby opened the scoring in the 13th minute, finishing well after good work from Barker, and Gray got her first in the 36th minute with Barker again the provider.
West End halved the deficit inside the first minute of the second half, but Barker claimed her third assist of the day to set up Gray in the 58th minute to settle United nerves.
And Gibson added gloss in the final minute, sliding the ball under the visiting goalkeeper for Newcastle's fourth.
Newcastle United Women: Laura Wareham, Ellen Packham (Jane Harland 69), Courtney Lock (c), Sharna Wilkinson, Megan McKenzie, Beth Guy (Jess Foster 46), Georgia Gibson, Rhiannon Gray, Katie Barker (Beth Gardener 64), Imogen Longcake (Emily Tait 46), Anna Soulsby
Sub not used: Abbie Gilchrist
Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC