The visitors from Staffordshire are currently seventh in the FA Women's National League Division One Midlands - the same level as the Lady Magpies, who are second in the North section - so a tight encounter would have been expected.

But Becky Langley's side were in irresistible form at Druid Park, taking the lead through Gibson after just five minutes after the midfielder was played in by Barker.

In the 11th minute, Gibson scored her and United's second with a fine finish then four minutes later, Barker got in on the act, crashing a shot home off the underside of the crossbar after Gibson's corner had been half-cleared.

Langley's ladies made it four in the 21st minute when Barker scored her second with a close-range finish and she then completed her hat-trick - and netted her eighth goal of the season - with another poachers' finish in the 28th minute.  

Not to be outdone, Gibson rounded off her own treble two minutes into the second half with a goal worthy of the achievement, going past four players before rolling the ball beyond the goalkeeper, but somewhat surprisingly there were no further goals.

That meant Grace Donnelly recorded her third clean sheet of the season, though, and United's women remain unbeaten in all competitions as they go into their next league game at third-placed Liverpool Feds Women in a fortnight's time.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly, Brooke Cochrane (c), Olivia Watt (Jane Harland 58), Ellen Packham (Rosie Missen 58), Sharna Wilkinson, Katie Barker (Becky Ferguson 75), Georgia Gibson, Leanna Giles (Beth Guy 46), Georgina Spraggon (Kacie Elson 46), Lois Greenslade, Rachel Lee

Subs not used: None

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC