After a change of venue was forced, due to a waterlogged pitch at Gateshead International Stadium, the fixture was played behind closed doors at Bullocksteads.

Becky Langley's side appeared unfazed by the late alterations, though, as first-half goals from Georgia Gibson and Amber-Keegan Stobbs gave the Magpies a deserved lead at half-time.

Kacie Elson added further gloss to the victory, which extends Newcastle's unbeaten run in all competitions to nine matches.

The opening stages were cagey between the teams, with clear-cut chances coming at a premium as both teams sussed each other out.

Gibson and Emma Kelly both looked to create in the middle, but good defending and calm goalkeeping from Emily Batty thwarted United's attempts to break the deadlock.

The visitors were a threat on the break and Grace Donnelly was forced into a superb one-on-one save to deny Charlotte Greengrass when she got in behind the Newcastle defence.

Gibson was heavily involved in the opening actions and saw an effort cleared off the line after Forest struggled to clear Charlotte Potts' free-kick.

The Newcastle number ten didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, however, grabbing the first goal of the game after 26 minutes by cutting inside and curling a delightful finish into the top corner.

Gibson was then at it again, heading narrowly wide as the Magpies looked to press home the advantage.

That pressure told with 38 minutes on the clock, as captain Stobbs drilled the ball high into the net following a corner.

After the break, Donnelly was once more called into action to deny Mollie Green, as the Tricky Trees pushed to halve the deficit and get back into the game.

The Newcastle keeper was crucial again, sprawling at the feet of Freya Thomas as the Forest winger threatened in behind.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the second period but, with 20 minutes to go, United went close to making it 3-0. Gibson delivered a dangerous corner and Potts got her head on it, only to see her effort blocked.

The closing stages became scrappier as both sides scrambled to find the all-important third goal.

It was the Magpies who eventually got it, on 90 minutes, as Elson lofted the ball over Batty and into the far corner to seal the victory.

Langley's side march on into the next round and do so with a mightily impressive win over last season's FAWNL Northern Premier Division champions.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly, Olivia Watt, Charlotte Potts, Naomi Bedeau, Tyler Dodds (Bridget Galloway 68), Elysia Boddy (Hannah Greenwood 46), Georgia Gibson, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Emma Kelly, Kacie Elson, Katie Barker (Daisy Burt 88)

Subs not used: Cara Milne-Redhead, Becky Ferguson

Report by Joseph Nelson

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock