Visitors AFC Fylde Women arrived at Kingston Park in the relegation places and without a win so far, and the Magpies' ninth success from ten league matches this term proved to be a convincing one after they blew their Lancastrian opponents away with their attacking prowess.

Second-placed Burnley Women weren't in action and Becky Langley's side made the most of their opportunity to pull further away from the Clarets - albeit United have now played one more game than their title rivals. 

After Gibson sent an early half-volley over from a Barker cutback, Galloway put Newcastle in front in the sixth minute. Tyler Dodds crossed from the right and United's leading scorer directed a looping header beyond goalkeeper Liz Craven to net her 13th goal in all competitions in her first term with the club.

Two minutes later, Dodds claimed her second assist of the afternoon as she centred again from the right and this time McQuade, who shone for Courtney Vacher's development squad last term but missed the start of the current season through injury, showed superb technique to find the target on her first league appearance for the Magpies.

Then in the 13th minute, McQuade turned provider as she slid in Gibson, who composed herself before drilling home United's third.

Emma Kelly saw a long-range effort acrobatically tipped over by Craven, but the Fylde goalkeeper was beaten again in the 23rd minute when Barker and Gibson exchanged passes before the former danced into the box and teed up McQuade, who fired in off the underside of the bar. 

Then two minutes later, McQuade completed her treble when she was on the spot to finish after Kelly's free kick wasn't cleared.

Fylde gained some consolation when Lily Murphy became only the second player to score a league goal against Newcastle's women this term, with a fierce effort which left Grace Donnelly with no chance. 

But - after Gibson and Dodds had gone close to adding to their lead - the Magpies got their sixth through centre-back Potts, who met Dodds' right-wing corner with a firm header.

Many of the 965 crowd thought Galloway had made it seven when she latched onto McQuade's pass but, although the net bulged, it was only the side-netting - and just before half time, Alex Taylor scored from close range to give Fylde a second goal to celebrate. 

At the beginning of the second half, a 25-yard effort from Gibson was pushed away by Craven, who then did well to parry a strike from Dodds, with the winger made to wait again for her first goal in black and white following her summer move from Sunderland Women. 

With Fylde refusing to lie down, Donnelly made a great save to deny Taylor before the Magpies began to turn the screw.

Galloway smashed home her second - and 14th of the campaign - after Gibson clipped the ball towards her following more good work from McQuade, then Barker got in on the act with a quickfire double.

First, she swept home after a strong run and delightful cross from Amber-Keegan Stobbs, then she drifted in from the left and curled beyond Craven.

Seconds later, Ginny Lackey pulled another back for Fylde, but their task became even harder when Codie Thomas was shown a second yellow card.

United pushed for a tenth, and it nearly arrived courtesy of an audacious Galloway backheel which was saved. The same player then saw another effort kept out by the busy Craven after more dynamic wing play from Dodds.

Dodds saw an effort deflected onto the roof of the net, but claimed yet another assist as she crossed for Galloway to complete her hat-trick in the final stages.

And in the dying seconds, substitute Anna Soulsby saw a cross directed into her own by Fylde skipper Izsy Binks. In their final game of a memorable year, this result - and the emphatic manner of the win - has put Newcastle United Women in a great position going into 2024.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly, Tyler Dodds, Olivia Watt, Charlotte Potts, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c) (Sharna Wilkinson 80), Emma Kelly (Cara Milne-Redhead 66), Hannah Greenwood, Georgia Gibson (Naomi Bedeau 62), Katie Barker (Kacie Elson 66), Bridget Galloway, Jasmine McQuade (Anna Soulsby 77)

Subs not used: None