An own goal in the opening stages had United ahead at Kenilworth Road but goals either side of half-time from Macey Nicholls and Phoebe Williams were enough to hand Hashtag the cup.

Newcastle were almost rewarded for a bright start at Luton Town's stadium when Katie Barker's cross was eventually laid back to Jasmine McQuade by Bridget Galloway, but United's number 21, off balance, sent her effort agonisingly wide of the top corner.

It took 16 minutes for United to take a deserved lead, as Lia Cataldo beat a Hashtag defender to work some space for a cross which Malika Apinda sliced into her own net.

Despite their early dominance, Newcastle's lead lasted only a few minutes when Nicholls cushioned a first time volley into the far corner from the penalty spot, leaving Grace Donnelly with no chance.

United continued to take the game to Hashtag and almost retook the lead on the half hour mark when McQuade's through ball allowed Kacie Elson to race into the box, but her toe-poke effort fizzed behind for a goal kick.

Hashtag kept putting pressure on United's backline as Sammy Rowland showed good strength out wide to get the better of Charlotte Potts before crossing to Georgia Griffin, who could only send a looping volley over the bar.

The Lasses almost clawed themselves back in front two minutes after the restart when an Elson cross was only half-cleared to McQuade, but Frankie Angel pulled off a stunning save from point-blank range to keep the scores level.

McQuade continued to cause Hashtag problems when, just minutes later, she danced past three players in midfield before sliding through Georgia Gibson, who looked certain to rip the back of the net before Courtney Lumley slid in at the last second.

Newcastle were all over Hashtag in the opening ten minutes with Barker this time squandering a huge chance. Gibson threaded a perfect ball through, leaving United's number nine with just Angel to beat but the Hashtag keeper got just enough on the ball to keep her side in the match.

Hashtag managed to weather the second-half storm and almost found themselves ahead when Rowland's footwork got her a yard of space to fire at goal, but she was denied by a great low save from Donnelly.

With less than 20 minutes left to play, substitute Williams put Hashtag ahead when she tapped into an empty net after a cut-back from Rowland.

Paige Bailey-Gayle thought she was about to score an equaliser in the 89th minute as Angel could only parry Tyler Dodds' effort straight to her, but Lumley put enough pressure on the forward to force the strike wide.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Charlotte Potts, Lia Cataldo, Kacie Elson (Tyler Dodds 63), Hannah Greenwood (Elysia Boddy 69), Emma Kelly, Georgia Gibson, Katie Barker, Jasmine McQuade (Olivia Watt 75), Bridget Galloway (Paige Bailey-Gayle 63)

Sub not used: Anna Soulsby

Report by Aaron Hindhaugh