Feds, who pipped the Magpies to the FA Women's National League Division One North title two seasons ago, hosted Becky Langley's side in the third tier for the first time, and it was United Women winger Kacie Elson, a player used to facing the Merseyside outfit, who gave Newcastle a first-half lead.

In-form forward Bridget Galloway grabbed her customary brace, with Emma Kelly also getting on the scoresheet as the Magpies swept aside the hosts at Jericho Lane.

Within minutes of the first whistle, Elysia Boddy tested Freya Heap with an effort from range, before Cara Milne-Redhead tried her luck from the edge of the box.

Georgia Gibson and Elson had openings thwarted by the Liverpool Feds goalkeeper and defence, while Olvia Watt showed her defensive prowess to deny Bethany Donoghue and keep the scoreline level.

Boddy fired another long-range attempt narrowly wide before Elson broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark.

After Milne-Redhead's half-volley smacked a post, the Newcastle winger was first to react, finishing the rebound clinically to give Langley's side a deserved lead.

On the stroke of the interval, Gibson almost doubled the advantage, but her curling effort was expertly clawed away by Heap.

The Magpies could have felt hard done by not being two to the good by half-time, but no sooner had proceedings restarted, did they double their lead.

Looking to press home their advantage, Newcastle put the Liverpool Feds defence under pressure once more. The ball dropped to Kelly on the edge of the box and the midfielder fired an unstoppable strike high into the net.

Before kick-off on Merseyside, Galloway had seven in just five matches for the Magpies. On the hour mark at Jericho Lane, the striker made it eight in six.

Boddy, whose long-range efforts had threatened Heap in the first 45 minutes, tried her luck once more and, on this occasion, the goalkeeper could only parry. As has been the case before this season, Galloway pounced on the chance superbly, firing home to make it 3-0 to Newcastle.

Only ten minutes had passed before Galloway got yet another goal, and another brace, climbing high to head home Tyler Dodds' dangerous corner to put the result beyond any doubt and take her tally for the season to nine.

Despite Newcastle's lead, the hosts still possessed a threat. In the closing stages, a fierce goalbound effort almost cut the deficit to three, but for Grace Donnelly's superb reactions to turn it onto the post before the defence was able to clear.

Galloway saw a last-minute opportunity for a hat-trick blocked before the referee blew the final whistle.

United are so far unbeaten in their first season in the third tier, as the Magpies continue to lay down a marker for the other sides in the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly (c), Olivia Watt (Naomi Bedeau 71), Charlotte Potts, Tyler Dodds, Emma Kelly (Becky Ferguson 71), Cara Milne-Redhead (Jasmine McQuade 63), Elysia Boddy (Hannah Greenwood 75), Kacie Elson (Katie Barker 55), Georgia Gibson, Bridget Galloway

Subs not used: None

Report by Joseph Nelson

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock