The Yorkshire club pushed Becky Langley's side all the way, but Erin Nelson's first-half opener and a Leeds own goal were enough to ensure that the Lady Magpies took the three points back to Tyneside.

Langley's side started the better of the two sides in a cagey first half and continually sought to impose themselves on the hosts.

The first clear-cut chance of the match fell to Lauren Robson, but having controlled Georgia Gibson's cross well, the Lasses' winger could not make a clean connection and the Leeds goalkeeper was able to gather.

As half time approached, Newcastle Women began to carve open the hosts. Nelson delivered a dangerous cross which narrowly evaded Kacie Elson and Gibson, and moments later Robson's low centre towards Elson was cut out, following clever work down the right by Gibson.

And the Lady Magpies were rewarded for their pressure on the half-time mark. Another low cross from Robson caused problems for the Leeds goalkeeper, who spilt the ball to the feet of Nelson, and she reacted brilliantly to fire home as Langley's side took the lead going in at the break.

The hosts looked to react in the second period, and vital tackles from Jane Harland and Keira Skelton kept the Yorkshire side at bay shortly after the break.

Newcastle almost doubled their lead soon after, as pinball in the box led to an audacious acrobatic effort from Elson which flew narrowly wide of the post.

But the Lady Magpies did not rest on their laurels, and Gibson's industry resulted in a second goal for Langley's side, with the number ten crossing from the left only for a Leeds defender to direct the ball into her own net with a header.

The Lilywhites continued to search for a way back into the game, but the back four, plus goalkeeper Grace Donnelly, stood firm and suppressed the hosts' efforts.

Elson thought she had added a third for Newcastle Women when she slotted home Gibson's cross, but the referee disallowed the goal for offside.

There were also late chances for Gibson and substitute Becky Ferguson, but Gibson's effort was saved well and Ferguson could not find the target.

While the result is vital to the Lady Magpies' league aspirations, it was the nature of the win that Langley was most thrilled about - her passionate celebrations at the full-time whistle encapsulating her pride in the character shown by her squad.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly (c), Keira Skelton, Olivia Watt, Ellen Packham, Jane Harland, Sharna Wilkinson (Rosie Missen 65), Beth Guy, Lauren Robson (Lois Greenslade 77), Erin Nelson (Georgina Spraggon 88), Kacie Elson (Becky Ferguson 88), Georgia Gibson

Sub not used: Ella Wilson

Report by Joseph Nelson

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC