Bridget Galloway's brace was added to by strikes from Amber-Keegan Stobbs and Georgia Gibson to ensure Becky Langley's team took three points back to Tyneside and started life in the third tier in the best possible fashion.

It took just three minutes for the Magpies to have the first shot of the contest, with Emma Kelly testing Liz Craven in the Fylde goal. Moments later, Charlotte Potts rattled the bar with a fierce effort after good play from Stobbs.

The Magpies applied much pressure in the opening stages and shortly after the ten-minute mark the deadlock was broken.

Galloway, who was on the scoresheet twice in last week's cup win over Burnley Women, got the first goal for the second consecutive match, lifting the ball delicately over Craven after being played in behind by Kelly.

The hosts responded to going behind and Jodie Redgrave almost pulled them level when she headed narrowly over from a corner.

Elysia Boddy and Kacie Elson both went close to doubling Newcastle's lead with 20 minutes on the clock; the former seeing a good strike thwarted before Elson was denied by Craven swiftly after.

In an open first half, Hannah Reid was forced to produce a smart stop to deny Lily Murphy and preserve United's lead, after the attacker had got beyond the Newcastle defence.

With half-time approaching, Stobbs' strong driving run and clever link-up between Galloway and Tyler Dodds created an opportunity for Elson at the back post, but the United winger headed her effort over.

Langley's side were then forced into a first-half change with Jodie Bartle being replaced by Naomi Bedeau following a head injury to the defender.

Moments before the break, Fylde went close to equalising, with Reid saving well before Lois Moore struck the crossbar from the rebound.

Five minutes after the restart, Bedeau became the second United centre-back to hit the bar, with her first-time effort cannoning back off the upright.

But it wasn't long before Galloway got hers and Newcastle's second of the match, converting from Stobbs' square ball following a successful high press by Langley's team.

Magpies skipper Stobbs was a creative presence throughout the encounter and turned goalscorer after 61 minutes when she volleyed Dodds' pinpoint cross beyond Craven, opening her account in black and white.

The hosts rarely threatened in the second period and, when presented with the opportunity to grab her hat-trick by an inviting cross from substitute Becky Ferguson, Galloway dragged her effort wide.

Time was beginning to run out for Fylde, but when released through on goal Clara Samson failed to test Reid.

Elson then fired wide for the Magpies and Galloway became the third player to strike the woodwork, as the open match showed no signs of waning in the closing stages.

And in the fourth minute of added time, substitute Gibson added the icing on the cake by driving the ball into the bottom corner.

Gibson's unerring finish capped a fine performance from Langley's side, ahead of their first home league fixture of the campaign against Stoke on Sunday, 10th September.

Newcastle United Women: Hannah Reid, Olivia Watt, Charlotte Potts, Jodie Bartle (Naomi Bedeau 42), Tyler Dodds (Becky Ferguson 64), Elysia Boddy (Cara Milne-Redhead 82), Hannah Greenwood, Kacie Elson, Amber-Keegan Stobbs, Emma Kelly (Georgia Gibson 73), Bridget Galloway

Subs not used: Erin Nelson

Report by Joseph Nelson

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock